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Showing posts with label Qingdao port. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Qingdao port. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Dry Bulk Market officially in the "Red" on lower cargo demand - Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping

Thursday, 03 November 11

The dry bulk market kept falling yesterday, on lower iron ore demand, which has caused the industry’s benchmark, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) to plunge to more than one-month lows, ending the session down to 1,859 points, or by 2.77%.

All shipping segments were down yesterday, with the Capesize market sustaining the biggest losses by 3.23%. The Panamax market was down by 1.20%.

According to the latest report from Shiptrade Services, after the previous weeks’ steady increase, the market turned downwards with Capesizes suffering the most. Commenting on the Capesize market, it mentioned that “the week began positively, but lack of cargoes in the Pacific forced Owners to lower their levels, or start ballasting towards the Atlantic.

Atlantic basin was active, with good cargo volume mostly coming ex Brazil.

Rates for Transatlantic rounds concluded at USD 34.000 per day, while on the Fronthaul trade, rates for trips to F.East, levels concluded at USD 49.000 per day. On the Tubarao/Qingdao trade rates were fluctuating between USD 30.00 – 30.50 pmt but week’s closing rates softened as an effect of the ballasters from the Pacific.

Pacific basin was quiet due to the absence of the iron ore majors but Owners could see a few alternative cargoes ex S.Africa / W.Canada. Rates softened, and at weeks closing, rates for the Australia/China trade concluded at USD 11.00pmt, while on TCT basis, rates for Pacific round concluded at USD 25.000 per day basis N.China delivery” said Shiptrade.

In a separate report Fearnley’s said that “after a relatively long period with improving rates, the Cape market experiences a correction mid last week. Rates kept dropping throughout this week, with West Australia/China being done just bellow usd 10 pmt. Tubarao/Qingdao was done last week around usd 32 pmt, the lowest done this week is just below usd 25 pmt. The drop in spot rates has resulted in less period activity with chrtrs aiming around mid teens, a level perceived to be of non interest to the owners. The rest of the week is remained to be quiet with Eisbein going on in Germany” said the report.

On the Panamax front, the Nordic-based shipbroker it said “fair activity with mineral requirements in the North Atlantic from USEC and Baltic catering for healthy levels as market is tight for prompt loaders. Fixing levels in the 20´s for Baltic rounds, upper teens for TA rounds. Less activity and weakness in the USG and ECSA from an increasing number of
ballasters appears from the Med and Far East. Levels for trip out hovering in the 26 + 600 range basis APS. In the Far East activity is low, tonnage lists grow, and rates are under downward pressure. NOPAC rounds 12500, period activity scant. The general sentiment is losing confidence from a slow and descending forward market” said Fearnley’s.

Shiptrade Services mentioned that “Panamax rates dropped slightly since the cargo volume was not enough to cover the available tonnage. In the Atlantic basin, the USG market remained the driving force, especially for the Fronthaul cargoes with fixtures at USD 26.500+650.000 GBB basis APS USG. Rates for Transatlantic round remained at USD 17.500 - 18.000 per day. In the Pacific basin activity remained flat with many Charterers waiting for rates to drop further. At week’s closing, rates for S.China/S.E.Asia positions interested for

Indonesia round, concluded at USD 14.000 – 14.500 per day. Positions at N.china/Japan range interested for trips ex NOPAC could get USD 13-14.500 per day” said Shiptrade.

On the Supramax trades the Piraeus-based shipbroker mentioned that “the market followed the same trend, with less cargoes and rates dropping. In the Atlantic basin, we could notice a decrease in the number of cargoes, but some areas were more attractive. In the USG region rates for trip to continent/East Mediterranean remained steady close to USD 30.000 per day, while for trips to F.East fixtures reported at USD 38.000 per day.

On the Mediterranean/Bl.Sea market, rates for trips to F.East held around USD 24 - 25.000per day, while rates for trips to USG were between USD 9 -10.000per day. On the ECSA region, vessels concluded at rates close to USD 18-19.000per day + 400.000 ballast bonus basis APS ECSA delivery for trips to F.East, and for trips to Continent/Med rates concluded at USD 16-17.000per day. In the pacific basin, rates dropped, as there were not many cargoes from Indonesia, and many Charterers preferred not to move and see how the market will proceed.

Some fixtures concluded to direction India but levels were fluctuating between USD 8.000 – 11.000per day. On the other hand, for the N.China positions, a few cargoes ex NOPAC remained an attractive solution at rates of USD 12.000per day (M/V Prabhu Jivesh 50956 / 02’)” concluded the shipbroker.

By:Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping

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(sourced coalspot.com)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

China’s coal price kept stable on ample supply during Lunar New Year

Feb11, 2011

China's coal price remained stable under ample supply during the Chinese Lunar Spring Festival in Feb 2-8 despite international coal price hike.

By Feb 2, China's benchmark power coal price stood unchanged for two consecutive weeks at 774 yuan/t.

Meanwhile, coal stocks at Qinhuangdao Port, a major coal transit and trading center in north China, stayed high, reaching 7.726 8 million tonnes by Feb 7.

At the same time, daily coal output of major coal producers in Shanxi has approximated to 1 million tonnes by Feb 7, which guaranteed stable coal supply to domestic market. Insiders believe that China's steam coal price is unlikely to jump under the government's price control.

Besides, international coal price is staying range bound at a high level after reaching the peak, which lessened the pressure to drive up domestic coal price.

Currently, steam coal price at New Castle Port in Australia stands at US$ 125 a tonne, down US$2 per tonne from the price on Feb 4.

Li Zhaolin, a coal expert in China, noted that China's coal price will keep stable in general in 2011, with rise estimated at 3 percent over 2010.

(sourced:Xinhua)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Steel Index adds two new iron ore reference prices

SINGAPORE, Feb1, 2011
(Reuters) - Data provider Steel Index said on Wednesday it has launched two more reference prices for iron ore that reflect specific grades of the raw material to aid long-term contract pricing.
The new reference prices include one for iron ore fines with 62 percent iron content and 2 percent alumina content while the other is for 63.5/63 percent grade with 3.5 percent alumina, Steel Index said in a statement. Both are priced with freight delivered to Qingdao port in China.
"The addition of the new reference prices will make it easier for parties using long-term supply contracts to index-link to a relevant spot series," said Rory MacDonald, head of iron ore operations at Steel Index.

MacDonald said the 2 percent alumina content grade is in line with ores mined in Western Australia's Pilbara belt and in southern Brazil which are mostly sold via quarterly contracts. The 63.5/63 grade references ore mined in India, he added.
This brings Steel Index's iron ore reference prices to four, including the existing 62 percent and 58 percent benchmarks, both with 3.5 percent alumina priced with freight for delivery to China's Tianjin port.

Global miners like Vale and Rio Tinto have been using iron ore price indexes as basis in determining rates for quarterly contracts with buyers of the steelmaking ingredient following the collapse of decades-old annual pricing arrangement in April.
Tight supplies have lifted index-based iron ore prices to record highs last month, suggesting second-quarter contract rates are likely to rise again after an estimated 7-8 percent increase in the first quarter.(Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Ed Lane, sourced:reuters)