A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Nov 15, 2024)

This report is produced by the Baltic Exchange.

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Capesize

The Capesize market showed a strong overall performance this week, with the Baltic 5TC gaining momentum and rising significantly from Monday's US$20,872 to end the week at US$26,777. Early week enthusiasm in the Pacific came from high activity levels on C5, with miners securing fixtures at improving rates, peaking at US$10.60-US$10.75 levels by weeks end. This was helped by an increase in operator activity. The South Brazil and West Africa to China markets also saw considerable rate increases as offers hovered around US$25.00 basis C3, with fixtures holding in the US$24.00 range for December dates mid-week, before pushing up to US$26.00 as the week draws to a close. In the North Atlantic, the Transatlantic and fronthaul routes saw activity pick up, supporting a sharp hike in rates by mid-week, and ending the week at US$26,943 (C8) and US$47,200 (C9) respectively.

Panamax

The week returned a strange feel for the Panamax market. Underlying factors in the North Atlantic suggested the gains seen would be more significant but failed to materialise as much as anticipated by some. Elsewhere, rates mostly ticked up on the back of reasonable demand versus a balanced tonnage count. Much of the better numbers for Transatlantic were said to be longer than index duration trips to the East Mediterranean, US$11,000 being agreed on an 75,000-dwt delivery France for a trip via US Gulf to Egypt with redelivery Cape Passero. Asia returned a mixed bag, steady activity in the North, with sound grain demand ex NoPac, whilst the South appeared slightly slower, with the headline being an 82,000-dwt delivery Japan achieving US$14,750 for a NoPac round trip redelivery Singapore-Japan. An uptick in period activity this week with reports emerging of a scrubber fitted 82,000-dwt delivery China achieving US$15,000 basis two years trading.

Ultramax/Supramax

An interesting week, with many describing the market as positional, as owners’ opportunities and expectations are largely shaped by where their vessels are open. In the Atlantic, results were mixed: while the US Gulf remained relatively subdued, the Continent saw a bit more optimism, driven by stronger demand. A 60,000-dwt fixing from the North Continent to the East Mediterranean at US$19,750. However, demand from the West Mediterranean was tempered by the volume of vessels open in the east Mediterranean, a 61,000-dwt fixing from Port Said to West Africa at US$11,500. EC South America remained patchy, a 61,000-dwt fixing from Recalada to the UK-Continent at US$17,000. From Asia, however it remained rather poor, a 58,000-dwt fixing delivery Pusan for a NoPac round redelivery SE Asia at US$9,000. Further south, limited demand from Indonesia saw a 63,000-dwt open Indonesia fixing a trip to China in the mid US$13,000s. The Indian Ocean, whilst demand remained again rates remained rather underwhelmed, a 56,000-dwt fixing delivery Richards Bay for a trip to India at US$12,750 plus US$127,5000 ballast bonus.

Handysize

Another challenging week for the sector as sentiment remained poor both in the Atlantic and Pacific arenas. In the Continent and Mediterranean market, sentiment remained largely positional, with minimal activity recorded. The rates held rather steady, hovering around previous levels. A 39,000-dwt open Teesport prompt heard fixed delivery passing Skaw trip via Baltic redelivery East Mediterranean with scrap at US$15,000. The overall tone in both the US Gulf and South Atlantic markets remained negative, driven by ongoing increase in available tonnage, which has exerted downward pressure on freight rates. In the US Gulf, a 32,000-dwt heard fixed delivery Houston for a trip redelivery Algeria with grains US$11,000. In the South Atlantic, a 36,000-dwt open Venezuela 18/21 Nov were fixed delivery dop via Atl. Colombia to Denmark with coal at US$11,000. The Pacific market also had another quiet week with limited fixing activity reported, the tonnage list appearing relatively longer and the cargo book sees little to no change. A 37,000-dwt open Singapore 6th Nov fixed delivery Singapore redelivery PG at US$13,000 and a 28,000-dwt heard fixed delivery South Philippines via SE Asia to Far East at US$8,000.

Clean

LR2

LR’s in the MEG have not had an easy week with plenty of available tonnage. The 75kt MEG/Japan TC1 index bubbled around the WS95 level. The 90kt MEG/UK-Continent TC20 run to the UK-Continent did, however, suffer after several fixtures reported mid-week at around the US$2.85 million level have driven the index down the US$2.91 million (-US$550,000).

West of Suez, Mediterranean/East LR2’s on TC15 came down another US$166,666 to US$2.67 million.

LR1

In the MEG, LR1 freight was a mixed bag this week. The 55kt MEG/Japan index of TC5 ticked up from WS103.75 to WS106.25 after a couple of fixtures reported later in the week. The 65kt MEG/UK-Continent of TC8 was a different story, and currently pegged at US$2.52 million (-US$314,600).

On the UK-Continent, the 60kt ARA/West Africa TC16 index remained stable at WS112-113 all week.

MR

MR’s in the MEG were flat this week. The 35kt MEG/East Africa TC17 index ultimately dipped a modest 2.86 points to WS167.14.

UK-Continent MR’s showed a late week flutter of improvement. The 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic coast of TC2 came up five points to WS90.31. Similarly, TC19 (37kt ARA/West Africa) bottomed out at WS121.88 mid-week and is back up at WS126.25 at present.

The USG MR’s showed an inkling of the volatility they’ve become known for again this week. TC14 (38kt US-Gulf/UK-Continent) sunk to WS137.14 from WS162.5 only to then return to WS146.79 across the last five working days. The 38kt US Gulf/Brazil on TC18 mirrored TC14 bottoming out at WS185.71 from WS210.36 and is currently WS196.43. The 38kt US-Gulf/Caribbean TC21 trip pumped is currently marked at US$464,286 down from US$605,000 with a stop at US$400,000 mid-week.

Handymax

In the Mediterranean, Handymax’s went sub WS100 this week -6.39 to WS95.83 taking the Baltic TCE for the trip into the negative.

Up in North West Europe, the TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent regained a little to WS120.28 (+3.61).

VLCC

The VLCC market rebounded this week. The 270,000 mt Middle East Gulf to China trip (TD3C) recovered five points to WS54.10 which gives a daily round-trip TCE of US$32,383 basis the Baltic Exchange’s vessel description.

In the Atlantic market, the rate for 260,000 mt West Africa/China (TD15) has improved by 3.5 points to WS55.72 (corresponding to a round voyage TCE of US$34,637 per day), while the rate for 270,000 mt US Gulf/China (TD22) dropped by another US$237,500 to US$7.3 million (a daily round trip TCE of US$33,599).

Suezmax

Owners have been under pressure again this week with all the Baltic Exchange Suezmax routes losing ground. In West Africa, the 130,000 mt Nigeria/UK Continent voyage (TD20) fell by another eight points to WS75.67, meaning a daily round-trip TCE of US$24,416. The TD27 route (Guyana to UK Continent basis 130,000 mt) went a bit further, dropping 12 points to WS72.22 which translates into a daily round trip TCE of US$21,983 basis discharge in Rotterdam. For the TD6 route of 135,000 mt CPC/Med, yet another six points were pulled from owners with the route now assessed at WS90.48 (showing a daily TCE of US$26,626 round-trip). In the Middle East, the rate for the TD23 route of 140,000 mt Middle East Gulf to the Mediterranean (via the Suez Canal) lost a point to WS91.22.

Aframax

In the North Sea, the rate for the 80,000 mt Cross-UK Continent route (TD7) fell about four points to WS121.25 (giving a daily round-trip TCE of US$25,204 basis Hound Point to Wilhelmshaven).

In the Mediterranean market, the rate for 80,000 mt Cross-Mediterranean (TD19) eased three points to WS118.31 (basis Ceyhan to Lavera, that shows a daily round trip TCE of US$24,387).

Across the Atlantic, again the market spent the week in the doldrums, although there is a little bit of positivity expected over the next few days with tightening positions and available cargoes. Rates for the 70,000 mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf route (TD26) and the 70,000 mt Covenas/US Gulf route (TD9) fell 21-22 points each to the WS95-97.5 level, showing a daily round-trip TCE of about US$10,300 and US$10,600, respectively. The rate for the trans-Atlantic route of 70,000 mt US Gulf/UK Continent (TD25) lost 17 points to WS111.11 (a round trip TCE basis Houston/Rotterdam of US$19,537 per day).

LNG

The LNG spot physical market continues to decline, with weak demand in both the Pacific and Atlantic markets. Despite very low rates, charterers remain reluctant to take on tonnage. While some suggest that the presence of many market participants in Dubai for the Bahri Week events could be influencing the softness in rates, the primary driver behind the downward trend is the combination of long tonnage lists and limited cargo demand. BLNG1 Aus-Japan for both the 174cbm and 160cbm ships fell by US$4,600, with the 2-stroke index closing at US$27,800 while the 160cbm TFDE index finished at US$16,900.

BLNG2 Houston-Cont was up for both ships, the only route to see any positive movement this week. However, the recent gain in rates will not outstrip the several weeks of negativity. BLNG2 on the 174cbm 2-strokes was up by US$5,200 to US$25,300 while the TFDE 160cbm index gained US$1,400 to US$14,000. BLNG3 Houston-Japan saw a slight uptick on the 174cbm index rising by US$1,400 to US$32,700 while the 160cbm TFDE index fell by US$400 to US$20,000.

The Baltic Period rates all suffered a fall but with little to report and negotiations taking place privately, it was less clear to see any direction. Our six-month period published down at US$30,850, the one-year at US$43,800 and the three-year period published at US$62,700.

LPG

The continued bull run in the US has further widened the gap between BLPG1 and BLPG3, a recent spate of fixing and a tighter tonnage list has pushed rates ex-US higher while the Middle Eastern market remains flat. Sentiment is steady and there is a hope that this will help push rates higher. BLPG1 Ras Tanura-Chiba moved higher by US$1.278 giving a final publication price of US$48.945 and a daily TCE earning equivalent of US$28,910 up US$1,505 on the week.

BLPG2 Houston-Chiba rose by US$8.417, a strong gain on the week, which meant that TCE earning was up US$7,168 as well, and a final publication of US$107.25 gave the market hopes going into the weekend that there will be a continued drive on rates next week. BLPG2 Houston-Flushing was quiet with little market interest, rates rose roughly in line with BLPG3 moving up US$3.25 and closing at US$58.50, and a final TCE earning of US$57,542.

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