The dry bulk market has been overflowing with new building vessels, despite the fact that demand is more or less (and minus the seasonal factors) rising this year. yesterday, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index), the market’s benchmark, retreated by 22 points to just 790 points, flirting with the lowest levels of this year, reached back in February. Supramaxes were the main driver of yesterday’s fall, as the relative index retreated by 40 points to 906. Similarly, all other ship markets were down on the day, with the Capesizes losing 12 points (1,192 points), the Panamaxes retreating by 17 points to 823 and the Handysizes, as always showing smaller volatility signs, losing just 3 points, to 535. What’s more notable is the fact that the dry bulk market has been on a slide for more than two weeks, with most ship owners looking for some respite in the coming weeks through to September.

According to the latest report from shipbroker Fearnleys, in the Capesize market the general trend is for, “more ships and overall lack of cargoes. It was however a minor rush in the middle of the week out of west Australia, resulting in freight rates excess USD 7 pmt for this route as well as creating some positive wibes in the market, but only short lived. Fronthaul remain more or less unchanged, but a lack of fixtures. A couple of fixtures for short period in the low 9,000s” Fearnleys said. Similarly, Shiptrade had earlied noted that “the market dropped throughout the week for capes with the BCI closing at 1200 decreased by 9 points whereas the average of the 4 TC routes fixed at USD 4,346 reporting a reduction of more than USD 300 compared to last week. In the Atlantic basin, the fronthaul trade declined by USD 500 fixing at USD 21,500 mainly due to lack of fresh requirements whilst the transantlantic round trips ended up at USD 4,250 decreased by USD 250. The same negative sentiment in the Pacific basin with the round trips fixed at USD 4,250 levels. The Australian iron ore trade kept playing a determinant role covering many vessels but not enough in order to increase rates. Period activity fixed at USD 9,250 levels, considerably decreased” it mentioned.

In the Panamax market, Fearnleys said that “the holiday season is now seemingly in full swing and we have experienced yet another slow week. Overall the market maintains its slow but steady decline with lack of fresh cargoes and a growing fleet list. Atlantic rounds are now being fixed at 6000 level DOP or on APS basis. Reduced activity also from South American where rounds have been done around 14,000 and 400k GBB. Activity in the Pacific is slow with NOPAC rounds in the 6000 range including Indonesia and Australia business. Period activity is low as the sentiment is suffering from lack of confidence. Short period levels at 8000 and 1 year closer to 9 for efficient and flexible tonnage” the shipbroker said in its weekly report.

Finally, in the Handysize/Supramax markets, Fearnleys stated that “the bearish sentiment is still prevailing in the market, regardless the areas/trades. Now it is only possible to get the rates close to USD 20k daily for the Baltic/Black Sea/USG to Far East voyages only. There is not much available in the USG/Continent route, it is paid less than USD 15k now. Average of TC routes is close to USD 10k, which is still impressive compared to Panamax equivalent. Period activity is scarce, one year employment was fixed at USD 9500 a day. The Pacific market has been falling. For Indo-India, large eco Supra now fixed at USD 5500 for dely mid China. Nopac also fixed bss APS at USD 7k + BB USD 300k. Indian iron ore market remains quiet with less activity on WCI & ECI. WCI-China rates around USD 8k and ECI-China around USD 5k. RBCT rv fixed at APS USD 8k + BB USD 200k. Red Sea fertilisers to India are fixed high teens. Not much activity seen on short period and rates around USD 9500 for large Supra” it concluded.
Source: Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News