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Monday, 27 February 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The pessimism in the dry market persists with the Baltic Dry Index still trying to find a steady pace of growth and average time charter earnings for all vessel classes floating at significantly lower levels than 2011. The steel market fundamentals have brought very low earnings for all dry bulk carrier vessels, even for smaller ones handies/supras, which were outperforming last year when capesizes and panamaxes were suffering. There are still hopes for improvement in March and onwards since January and February are seasonally weak months with Chinese buying less iron ore due to National Festivities and hefty stockpiles. Inventories at key Chinese steel mills monitored by China’s Iron & Steel Association reached 10.98 million tones by the end of January, the highest since the second half of 2009 and rising 24.5% from early January. CISA said in its monthly Report that it will be difficult for demand to improve significantly during end February to early March and inventories are likely to continue rising.
The world crude steel production for the 59 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 117 million tonnes (Mt) in January 2012. This is -7.8% lower than January 2011. China’s crude steel production for January 2012 was 52.1 Mt, a decrease of -13% compared to January 2011. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.6 Mt of crude steel in January 2012, a decrease of -10.6% compared to the same month last year. South Korea’s crude steel production for January 2012 was 5.1 Mt, -9.6% down compared to January 2011.
Despite the BDI lost again ground by falling every day during last week it finally ended to close in green with an improvement on Friday by earning 12 points from Thursday’s closing. The BDI closed at 717 points by gaining only 1 point from previous week’s closing of 718 points. Overall, all Baltic Dry Indices closed on green apart from panamaxes. There was an upturn in the capesize segment, a downward trend for panamax and a stronger performance in the supramax and handysize segments. The handysize segment showed the largest increase by gaining 16 points from last week, up 4.2% and ending at 395 points with vessel earnings near to $5,900/day in contrast with a 12% decline in the Baltic Panamax Index by loosing 113 points on a weekly basis and ending at 836 points. The BPI has surpassed the 1,000 points mark in mid February, by standing at 1018 points on February 14th, a yearly high level.
For large size vessels, capesizes, which typically transport 150,000 ton cargoes of iron ore and coal, the BCI ended by gaining 43 points on a weekly basis, up by 2.94% standing at 1504 points with a significant bounce back on Friday. Capesize earnings rose to $5,699/day from the yearly low of $5,158 on February 21st with China boosting its cargo demand loadings from Brazil and Australia. According to a London based analyst at derivatives broker Freight Investor Services Ltd there has been clearly some Chinese buying at these low freight levels that is sufficient to move rates up slightly. Prices (TSIPIO62) for iron ore imported into the Chinese city of Tianjin increased for a fifth session, gaining 0.2 percent to $139 a metric ton, according to figures from the Steel Index Ltd.
Spot prices of imported iron ore in China rose on Friday as traders bid up the market, betting on a recovery in domestic steel demand when construction projects resume next month. According to traders, global miner BHP Billiton sold several cargoes this week at prices around $3 more than previous deals. Australian Pilbara iron ore fines with 61.5 percent iron content was quoted at $138-$140 a tonne, cost and freight, up $2 from Thursday, according to Chinese consultancy Umetal. “Some traders are trying to push up the price because they think steel demand would pick up in March when the weather returns better and construction activity resumes in China”, he said. BHP rivals Rio Tinto and Vale were also offering more cargoes on Friday. Iron ore with a 62% content rose 2.1% to $138.70 per tonne on Thursday, its biggest percentage gain since December 21st, according to Steel Index price provider.
Panamax vessels, which usually transport 60,000-70,000 tonne cargoes of coal and grain, experienced severe decline with earnings falling below $7,000/day, when last year were earning around $14,000/day, and the BPI loosing 113 points from last week’s closing, down by 12% and standing at 836 points. The segment is feeling the pain from overcapacity with at least one panamax, kamsarmax or post panamax being delivered into service every day so far this year. Owners in the Atlantic are said to subsidizing their operating expenses as they are not earning enough to cover the cost of bunkers on ballast legs. With all February grain cargoes from east coast South America fixed to ships earlier this month, the vessels being booked at the moment for March loading dates are almost exclusive those ballasting from the Pacific markets.
Supramax vessels, which carry about 25 percent less than Panamaxes, showed healthier levels from a distressed Atlantic status with earnings rising near to panamax levels of about $6,900/day and the BSI gaining 21 points, up by 3.2% from last week’s closing and standing at 662 points. In addition, handysize units gained a sharp increase of 4.2% with the BHSI standing at 395 with earnings rising to $5,980/day, almost 40% lower than previous year when they earning near to $10,000/day.
Even the positive upturn seen during the last week in the freight markets there is still a road ahead for full recovery since the vessels’ glut is still a major threat for the dry bulk market and Chinese iron ore import market sentiment remains fragile with spot iron ore prices dropping on the increase of port stockpiles. The benchmark iron ore price trading was at $140/tonne in recent months from a record high of $180/tonne seen last year. The chief executive officer of Rio Tinto, the second largest supplier of iron ore, sees a period of volatility of six months for the iron ore market before stabilizing.
The steel needs from China and other developing countries are expected to ensure strong commodity demand on the long term, he added. "The world is an uncertain place at the moment and we have seen some softness in China, but demand remains strong," he said.
China alone will require at least another 100 million metric tons of iron ore a year for the next eight years, including 600 million tons in that period to satisfy growth and 200 million to replace the expected exit of high-cost supplies, he said, adding that Rio plans to contribute about a quarter of this additional ore to China.
The move of China to cut banks’ reserve requirements ratio by 0.5% to be effective from February 24th and Vale’s decision to move to spot iron ore pricing may be two positive key developments for the future of dry bulk earnings. Vale has announced that it will sell 80% of its iron ore at spot market pricing, which satisfies Chinese steelmakers by gaining from falling iron ore prices. February has almost ended and BDI has not still managed to break the psychological barrier of 1,000 points mark with earnings for capesize vessels trading at similar levels with handysizes. March may be a healthier month for large size units as Chinese iron ore stockpiles has shown a sense of retreat during the last days of February, by falling less than the record high of 100 mil tones seen almost two weeks ago, and a boosted Chinese cargo buying demand that increased capesize loadings from Australia and Brazil.
Source: Maria Bertzeletou, Hellenic Shipping
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Thursday, 01 March 12
BUKIT ASAM TARGETS EUROPEAN INVESTORS
COALspot.com - PT. Bukit Asam (persero) Tbk, Indonesian state owned coal miner is planning to conduct road show in Europe next week to target at Eur ...
Thursday, 01 March 12
INDO-INDIA, LARGE ECO SUPRA CAN FETCH CLOSE TO USD 9K DOP N.CHINA - FEARNLEYS AS
Handy
The Atlantic Handysize market did not see any signs for recovery this week. It is still a major lack of spot cargoes and an oversupply of pro ...
Wednesday, 29 February 12
69 MINERS AGREE TO RENEGOTIATE CONTRACTS - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post, one of the leading English news papaer in Indonesia reported that, as many as 60 coal contracts-of-work (PKP2B) and nine non-coal ...
Wednesday, 29 February 12
PUTTING COAL GASIFICATION TO WORK
Clifford Reese of the SSOE Group looks at practical solutions for district energy leaders who wish to implement clean coal technology.
Coal fuels ...
Monday, 27 February 12
COAL MINING PROFITS TOO HIGH, SAYS GOVT - TEMPO INTERACTIVE
Tempo Interactive reported that, Energy and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister of Indonesia Widjajono Partowidagdo has criticized coal-mining compani ...
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- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- PTC India Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Australian Coal Association
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- The University of Queensland
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
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