Baltic Exchange Shipping Insights

TANKERS

VLCC

Rates in the Middle East Gulf for 270,000 tonnes to China came under renewed downward pressure with a Basrah/China run fixed at WS 37.5 while an early position of Feb 24 went at WS 38 to South Korea. Going west, 280,000 tonnes cape/cape to US Gulf was steady at between WS 18.5/19. West Africa to China held at WS42.5 for 260,000 tonnes cargo, although there is talk now of Petroineos fixing at WS 41.5.

Crude from Hound Point to South Korea went at US$3.7 million down US$250,000, although this deal may subsequently have failed. Fuel from Rotterdam to Singapore went at US$2.95 million. In the Caribbean, Reliance fixed at US$2.3million on 1999 built tonnage for Sikka and US Gulf to Singapore went at both US$3.125 and US$3.2million.

Suezmax

The modest improvement of last week in West Africa fizzled out and rates fell 2.5 points to WS 55 for 130,000 tonnes to Europe, with WS 50 being agreed on tonnage ex drydock. Black Sea rates fell back with the market easing 2.5 points to around WS 70 and remains under pressure. In the Med, Malta to Singapore was fixed at US$1.4 million while Arzew/Singapore went at US$1.75 million.

Aframax

The 70,000 tonnes Caribbean/upcoast market caught the eye this week as rates climbed 25 points to WS 110, as a result of increased activity including east discharge together with fog and bad weather. By contrast, the 80,000 tonnes cross Med market, despite good activity, dropped a further 2.5 points to WS 90 and one Libya/Med deal was even concluded at WS 85. Black Sea rates are hovering between WS 90/95 region.

It was a similar story in the north with 100,000 tonnes dipping down 2.5 WS points to WS 70 while the 80,000 tonnes cross North Sea market was steady at WS 90.

Panamax

The market for 55,000 tonnes from ARA or Skikda held at WS 105 level.

Clean

In the 37,000 tonnes Cont/USAC trade, with an increase in fresh cargo rates, pushed up almost 10 points to WS 165 before easing back to high WS 150s.

The 38,000 tonnes backhaul trade from US Gulf/UKCont had been settled at WS 105 region before softening to WS 101.75/102 level. The LR1 market remains firm with rates hovering between WS 105/107.5 region although LR2s may cap further improvements here, as the 75,000 tonnes Middle East Gulf/Japan trade saw the market ease 7.5 points to WS 85.

DRY

Capesize

A drifting market with holidays culminating in Chinese New Year celebrations significantly reducing activity.

A couple of days of inertia swiftly prompted jitters and owners/operators with prompt ships dropped rates although as the week closed out rates were a touch steadier, particularly in the east. Several cents were shaved off the West Australia/China route but rates found a level around US$6.40/US$6.50.

Timecharter trading was slow, there were vague and unconfirmed reports that US$12,000 daily had been done for a round voyage but a 175,000-tonner built 2012 fixed earlier in the week from Liuheng for Port Hedland/China at US$14,000 daily. Brazil/China rates were still in the US$16.00 range with rates for first half March in the low US$16.00s and towards the upper end going forward.

Further north, the list of cargoes both transatlantic and front haul shrunk and charterers picked off the needier ships. The BCI C7 route Puerto Bolivar/Rotterdam saw rates falling sharply to the low US$8.00s and timecharter rates nearer to US$11,000 rather than US$12,000 daily.

Front-haul activity was limited with rates hovering around the low US$20,000s daily for ships delivering northwest Europe for the run east. A modern 179,000-tonner allegedly fixed from Gibraltar for a trip to the east at significantly under US$25,000 daily earlier in the week.

Paper values held steady going forward but fresh period activity was limited although Koch Shipping relet the Great Jin 175,868-dwt 2010-built to NYK for Tobata delivery prompt for five to seven months at 103 per cent of the BCI 5-timecharter daily average. Koch Shipping fixed the ship over a week ago for about a year at US$18,750 daily.

Panamax

Despite the Chinese New Year holidays, there was renewed optimism that the market had reached the bottom, and the next move will be up once the dust settles and a full return to work.

Period trades continued with a modern kamsarmax fixed for one-year delivery India at a steady US$13,250, with further short period trades concluded as the paper market improved and market confidence returned. In the Atlantic, there was a flurry of fixing from east coast South America, mostly for March dates, with some of the earlier vessels arriving in February forced to wait for later cargoes.

Kamsarmaxes repeatedly fixed at US$14,500 plus US$450,000 ballast bonus for early March dates for trips to the east. There were also several transatlantic trades finalised but in the north the market was more subdued with the limited mineral enquiry mainly from the Baltic.

The Pacific continued to see tonnage discount for repositioning business, but with a more balanced tonnage/cargo ratio combined with paper levels improving and more activity from east coast South America, overall owners seemed more confident.

Supramax

Overall, it was a quiet week in both basins with many Pacific participants leaving their desks early for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Rates for fronthaul were under pressure from the US Gulf and brokers reported a tick more orders circulated in the area. The route from the US Gulf to the Far East climbed most of the week but indices on other supramax routes remained weak. On the period front, a 53,000-dwt 2008-built open in the Philippines was booked for five to seven months at US$11,400 daily with worldwide redelivery.

From east coast South America, a larger-sized ultramax type was booked via east to South Africa at US$14,000 daily plus a ballast bonus of USUS$130,000. In the east for trips loading via Indonesia, an ultramax was paid US$9,000 daily basis Hong Kong delivery to India and US$11,750 daily basis Indonesia to Pakistan.

Supramax type to China was reportedly fixed at US$7,300 daily from Chittgaong and US$9,200 daily from Singapore opening. In the Indian Ocean, a 57,000-dwt was agreed at US$12,750 daily for a trip to east coast India, and a 55,000-dwt open South Africa was fixed to Singapore-Japan range at US$12,300 daily plus US$230,000 ballast bonus.

Handysize

Rates slipped in the Atlantic from the start of the week but some brokers saw signs that the US Gulf market might slightly improve with tonnage tight for February dates towards the weekend. Fresh activity was awaited to set a new benchmark but more handy-sized cargoes were needed for ships in the area. A smaller-sized handy open west Africa was reportedly fixed for a trip with logs via west Africa to the Far East at US$11,500 daily.

A 32,000-dwt open Paranagua was booked for US east coast redelivery at US$13,000 daily. A voyage fixture from east coast South America was reported for 40,000-tonnes 10 per cent beans from Upriver to one safe port in the Egyptian Mediterranean at US$30.50 with 8,000 tonnes load and 7,000 tonnes discharge in March dates. A short week in the east and little reported ahead of the Year of the Dog.

This report is produced by the Baltic Exchange.

The Baltic Exchange, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Exchange, is the world's only independent source of maritime market information for the trading and settlement of physical and derivative contracts. Its international community of over 650 members encompasses the majority of world shipping interests and commits to a code of business conduct overseen by the Baltic.