DRY BULK RATES CONTINUED TO TUMBLE LAST WEEK - BRS

Tuesday, 25 January 11

With weather-related problems affecting the short-term outlook, and new building deliveries the longer-term picture, dry bulk rates continued to tumble last week and the BDI and Capesize 4TC are now at their lowest levels for 2 years. Thursday saw the BDI bottom out at 1,438 points, a result mainly of softness in the Cape market. Rising commodity prices indicate there is still good demand for product, which suggests new building deliveries are the main issue affecting rates. After two weeks of 2011, 20 new Capes have been delivered, 9 Panamaxes, 28 Supramaxes, and 21 Handysizes, indicating the pace of delivery is increasing. In the FFA market, 2H 2011 is now trading at around US$21,000 per day compared to US$24,000 six months ago.

Capesize

Another period of softening rates in the Cape market, and the BCI lost a further 15% or 270 points Friday-to-Friday. The Cape 4TC, at just under US$9,700, is now below the time charter equivalent for all the other bulk sizes. Players reported a sharp drop in Australian business, with coal operations still disrupted due to weather factors, and a lacklustre demand for ore. In the period market, it was reported that a 161,000 tonner was taken for 3-5 months at US$13,000 per day. However the sole one-year charter was signed at a BCI index-linked rate. On Monday however the BCI lost just 5 points, raising hopes among owners that the market may be bottoming out.

Panamax

The Panamax 4TC average stayed flat this week and hovered between US$15,300 and US$15,400 per day. However the two basins went in opposite directions. The Pacific showed some resistance due to the number of ballasters going to the USG and ECSA, and ships caught in the congestion in Queensland created some opportunities for the other vessels. The Nopac route gained US$500 and closed the week at US$10,000 per day. West of Suez, in the Atlantic, the market eased by US$1,000 as very few fresh requirements hit the market and the fleet supply end Jan was growing day by day. Regarding the period market, all major operators were quiet and the few ships which went on short period for delivery China or India were getting fixed at US$16,500 per day.

Supramax/Handy

The Baltic Supramax Index has shown a few signs of recovery with most of the routes following a slight upward trend. Delays in the southern part of the Atlantic due to bad weather/congestion have resulted in charterers having to come on the market looking for substitute vessels, of which very few are available. The Baltic gained 48 points to finish at 1,393 points last week, while the average of the TC routes gained US$506 to finish at US$14,570. The US Gulf and the Continent were the drivers of the Atlantic where fewer fixtures were seen from East Coast South America. A Supra delivery west Africa for a trip via Brazil/ Argentina to the Singapore/Japan range was rumoured to have fixed at US$24,000 dop. From the USG, modern Supras were fixed to the Continent around the mid US$20,000s, and to the Singapore/Japan range in the low/ mid to mid US$30,000s. For the smaller sizes, the trend of the Baltic Handysize index has been steady, finishing at 765 points with no difference noted as it had started at 765 points. Only the TC Handysize average showed very minor signs of improvement, as it gained US$25 to finish the week at US$11,129 per day.

For Handies, the driver has been East Coast South America which has been more active than the US Gulf or the Continent (which has seen a few scrap orders back to the east Med), and the Black Sea which remains silent. A couple of Modern Supramaxes ex Far East for 2-4 month periods were fixed between US$12-13,000. The Pacific has continued to weaken with Supramaxes being fixed for backhauls at around US$7,000 ex Taiwan, while ex Japan to Australia/Nopac were fixed around US$7,500.

Source: Barry Rogliano Salles (BRS)