Capesize

The gains in the Capesize timecharter average from last week were reversed, with the 5TC closing at $27,331 on Friday—down $4,425 week-on-week. The surge in the North Atlantic paused, with fronthaul rates settling thick below $50,000 and the transatlantic run closing at $31,214 per day. The C3 index (Brazil/West Africa to China) with end of August cancelling remained in the $24 range for most of the week, translating to approximately $24,000 for a China–Brazil round voyage. Despite poor weather conditions in the CJK region, the C5 index (West Australia to China) began the week in the low $10s, dipped slightly but eventually rebounded to $10.67 by the weekend—bringing the transpacific round voyage in line with the average of the five timecharter routes.

 

Panamax

The week concluded with continued declines in the Panamax market. In the Atlantic, conditions remained weak, with limited fixing activity in the North Atlantic and growing pressure on owners as charterers held back. Similarly, South America remained under pressure for nearby dates, with an 81,000-dwt fixed at $15,000 plus a $500,000 gross ballast bonus for a trip via EC South America to the Singapore–Japan range. In Asia, momentum continued to trend downward, as subdued NoPac and East Australia cargo flows forced owners to lower their ideas to secure employment. NoPac rounds hovered around the $11,000 level, with only limited deals reported, while Indonesian round trips averaged approximately $13,000.

 

Ultramax/Supramax

The summer holiday season arrived for the sector this week certainly within the Atlantic with  a rather subdued feel to proceedings generally. From the Atlantic, the US Gulf remained rather positional although sentiment was slightly more positive as the week closed. A 61,000-dwt fixing a trip from Houston to Turkey at $21,000. The South Atlantic saw a widening gap between owners’ and charterers’ expectations, a 63,000-dwt fixed delivery Santos for a trip Chittagong at $14,500 plus $450,000 ballast bonus.  From Asia, a slightly stronger feel although there was seemingly a north/south divide in demand. A 61,000-open Lumut fixing a trip via Indonesia to Vietnam at $14,000. The Indian Ocean was activity although again it was a positional affair, a 63,000-dwt fixing delivery Port Elizabeth trip to China at $16,000 plus $600,000 ballast bonus. Period activity remained sparce, although a 61,000-dwt open Barranquilla was heard fixed for minimum 5 months trading at around $16,000.

 

Handysize

The Handy sector saw minimal visible activity across both basins this week. In the Continent and Mediterranean, limited information surfaced, with rates generally holding around last-done levels. A 40,000-dwt heard fixed delivery Gdansk 4-7 Aug via Baltic Russia to redelivery Aratu – Rio Grande with fertilisers at $14,000.  In both the South Atlantic and U.S. Gulf, negative sentiment persisted throughout the week, with only a few new inquiries and little significant activity. A 37,000-dwt open Veracruz 5 Aug fixed via Mobile to Continent with wood-pellets at $13,750.  Meanwhile, the Asian market remained resilient, with sources noting a continued shortage of available vessels in the North Pacific. A 38,000-dwt open CJK 30 July - 5 Aug fixed for a trip to Philippine with steels at around mid $13,000.