The Supramax/Ultramax shipping sector is still dominated by positive sentiment in the Indian Ocean. Players report quite lively cargo flow ex Persian Gulf ports and healthy tonnage demand for iron ore and steel shipments from Indian ports. Note that owners also ask premium bss redel ECI-Bangladesh area as the monsoon season is coming. Thus, corresponding TCT deals are discussed at least $4-5k daily above last done levels, and owners’ positions continue firm up:
Thus, an Ultramax ship has been chartered at $38k daily bss dely Dammam via PG redel Bangladesh;
Another Ultramax vessel has been fixed at 33.5k daily for sugar transportation bss DOP WCI redel SE Asia;
A ship of 56k dwt has been chartered at $25k daily for a slag shipment bss DOP WCI redel PG;
As for backhaul traffic, an Ultramax vessel has been fixed at $33k daily for steel transportation bss DOP WCI redel USG;
A Supramax ship has been fixed on subs at $32.5k daily bss DOP PG redel Morocco;
As for the ECI market, charterers pay mid-$20s k daily for a Supramax iron ore shipment bss DOP ECI redel Far East, while owners are seeking to get high $20s k daily;
On the voyage basis, shipment of 50,000 t of limestone from the UAE to ECI may cost high $22s/t ($1/t up from last week);
Carrying 50,000 t of iron ore from Vizag to Tianjin is estimated by ISM at $29/t with 8,000c/12,000c l/d rates, which is equivalent to slightly more than $26k daily bss dely Chittagong;
Meanwhile, the Handysize sector largely stays under pressure, with only backhaul steel requests ex Persian Gulf coming to the market:
Thus, charterers pay low $30s k daily for steel products transportation by a standard Handysize carrier, while owners want to get mid-high $30s k daily bss DOP PG redel Continent;
The South African market shows moderate cargo offer. Note also that most requests with early May laycans are not firm. However, players report rather limited tonnage list along African coasts, which allows owners to stand their ground:
Thus, an Ultramax carrier can be fixed at $27.5k daily + 750k bb bss APS Durban redel Far East and at $26.5k + 650k bb bss redel India;
Reportedly, a vessel of 63k dwt has been chartered at $22k daily bss DOP Chittagong via S.Afr redel Far East;
Another Ultramax ship has been fixed at $45k daily bss dely Maputo redel Continent with Apr 25-30 laycans;
A carrier of 58k dwt open W.Afr has been chartered slightly above $28k daily bss dely S.Afr redel Far East;
Another large Supramax ship open Maldives has been fixed on subs at $45k daily bss APS Richards Bay redel Dakar;
On the voyage basis, shipment of 50,000 t of coal from RBCT to Pakistan may cost $31/t (around $0.5/t up from last week).
