Weekly Freight Recap: 05/09/24
Sep 05, 2024
PANAMAX
Atlantic: This week, The Panamax market shows potential for improvement as vessels head to the U.S. for the grain season. However, recovery is slow, with an oversupply of tonnage in the North Atlantic and limited demand, particularly for transatlantic routes. The U.S. Gulf offers better prospects for fronthaul routes, but South American volumes remain uncertain in the near term.
Pacific: Coal demand remains low, though mineral demand from Australia and Indonesia has seen some improvement. Despite this, the overall market is sluggish, with owners holding out for better conditions. There has been some period activity, but the market remains subdued.
SUPRAMAX
Atlantic: The Supramax market remains quiet, with limited cargo volumes and a slow start to the grain season. Tonnage oversupply persists across the Atlantic, with fewer cargoes from the Mediterranean and Continent regions. Fresh demand in the U.S. Gulf and South Atlantic remains minimal, keeping rates soft. While period demand is steady, spot market activity is low.
Pacific: Limited cargo volumes and an oversupply of tonnage. As the monsoon season ends, more cargoes are expected in the Indian Ocean region. Demand from the U.S. Gulf and South Atlantic is weak, and rates remain below recent levels. In Asia, the market is balanced but with a growing list of prompt tonnage.
HANDYSIZE
Atlantic: The Handysize market continues to see slow activity, with long tonnage lists and minimal demand in the Continent and Mediterranean. The South Atlantic remains quiet, leading to downward rate adjustments as owners reposition. Fresh demand in the U.S. Gulf has slowed, adding pressure on rates due to a growing tonnage list.
Pacific: In Asia, the Handysize market softened as available tonnage increased and general activity slowed across the region.
Weekly Recaps
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
08-12/09/25 Agri
Sep 15, 2025
The week opened with wheat leading a modest rally, Kansas futures gaining more than 2% in what appeared to be an overdue correction in an oversold market. Chicago and MATIF contracts followed with smaller advances, while corn and soybeans also firmed ahead of the US crop progress update and Friday’s WASDE. Despite the bounce, trading volumes suggested short liquidation in wheat had not yet begun in earnest. Sovecon raised its 2025 Russian wheat forecast to 86.1 mmt, broadly matching IKAR, while US crop ratings slipped only marginally. Export inspections painted a mixed picture, with corn and soybeans steady but wheat sharply lower.
Freight
Freight Recap:
11/09/25
Sep 11, 2025
The dry bulk freight market maintained a firm tone this week, with Handysize, Supramax, and Panamax indices all showing gains.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
01-04/09/25 Agri
Sep 08, 2025
Grain markets remained under pressure last week, with wheat leading losses as both C-B-O-T and MATIF contracts hit fresh multi-year lows on ample global supply and weak demand. Corn was more resilient, briefly reaching a six-week high before retreating as short covering faded, while soybeans slid throughout the week on poor export demand and the continued absence of Chinese buying. Broader financial market weakness added to bearish sentiment, and traders now look ahead to key macro events — U.S. inflation data, the ECB rate decision, and Friday’s USDA WASDE report.
