Freight Markets
Markets remain unsettled
The news front the week has been marked by the troubled negotiations on steel prices between Chinese steel mills and their suppliers. After mills accepted the now benchmark level of 71.5 per cent rise
Market activity reflected in increased rates
Last week was not so quiet on dry bulk markets despite the absence of some players for Easter festivities by the end of the week. This steady level of fixtures stopped the fall in Cape rates. Situatio
Hot and cold news influences markets
The lack of business that started to weigh down the Cape market last week has kept on bearing on the figures this week. However the last two trading days have seen some fixtures and stems coming to su
Mixed signals in the dry bulk sector
Contrary to last week where almost all dry bulk markets levelled off, freight rates evolution this week started to diverge. The Capes did not confirmed the positive outlook promised by
The downs and ups of freighting costs
Despite the rather unanimous fall in rates recorded this week, which is in line with what had been anticipated, the last 24 hours of the week have given some signals of an upward trend. Everyone
Rates keep on rising
After the upturn of the market last week, rates have kept on rising over the last five trading days. Levels which were talked about a week ago have been achieved for all segments of
Volume of business improving
The wait and see feeling which was widely shared last week doesn’t seem to be charterers’ view any longer. The volume of business this week has been firmer on almost all segments of
Charterers play the waiting game
After the short rush of last week that pushed Capes and Panamax rates up again, the market seems now to play the waiting game with the Chinese New Year festivities about to start. However, despite the
Markets regain some lost ground
Activity on dry bulk markets this week was in line what was expected. Capes have taken the driving seat and now with few ships remaining open prompt the market seems to be ready for another rally
Mixed signals from the market
Dry bulk markets have continued to slide last week but on Friday the general feeling was that next week will see a comeback of charterers particularly in the East, which should reverse the trend in th
First signs of weakness?
After the very prompt reaction of the market, which started mid-last week, it now seems that charterers have disappeared from the charts! The end of last week was very quiet and rates started to feel
Markets regain upward momentum
With overall demand still very firm the market remains on the edge and will react upwards to any return of charterers. This week Cape rates have made a U-turn regaining almost all the ground lost earl
Markets weaken over holiday period
The level of business has been particularly low since our latest report 15 days ago. This slow mood has translated into lower rates with the Capes falling down under the $100,000 par day, Panamaxes ha
Markets start to slide
At present everybody is "skiing down to the village" and the heaviest is the fastest. Capes have recorded this week historical downward figures and the number of ships remaining unfixed by the end of
Still riding the roller coaster
After another exciting period of nearly one month where rates reached unprecedented record levels, the market has stalled during most recent trading days. Figures have started to dive from their top p
Numbers speak for themselves!
It is very hard this week to find other words than: strong, firm or even historical. Cape rates are now heading towards the US$110,000 per day for Brazil to Far East voyages and can fetch the US$100,0