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
Freight
Freight Recap:
11/12/25
Dec 11, 2025
The dry bulk market saw a softer overall tone, with Handysize holding largely flat, Supramax weakening across both basins, and Panamax continuing its decline despite some localized Atlantic support. Activity levels remained muted in many regions, with owners increasingly seeking cover ahead of the holiday period. The Atlantic showed mixed signals across segments, while the Pacific faced longer tonnage lists and weaker demand, keeping pressure on rates.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
01-05/12/25 Agri
Dec 08, 2025
USDA announced no new flash sales, disappointing soybean markets. Weekly export sales remain delayed and have not yet reached the period covering the US–China trade deal, leaving the true pace of buying uncertain. CBOT corn and wheat eased, while March MATIF wheat posted small gains after finding support at intraday contract lows. ABARES raised Australia’s 2025/26 wheat, barley, and canola output, though the increases were broadly in line with expectations. Algeria’s OAIC issued a soft wheat tender for February shipment, and Russian wheat prices slipped again, with 12.5% FOB for January at $227/t.
Freight
Freight Recap:
04/12/25
Dec 04, 2025
The dry bulk market saw a generally mixed performance, with Handysize remaining supported in the Atlantic, Supramax showing uneven movement across regions, and Panamax continuing its correction as rising vessel supply weighed on sentiment. Atlantic dynamics were split between firmer US Gulf/US East Coast activity in the smaller segments and softer conditions for Panamax. In the Pacific, muted enquiry and longer lists contributed to a softer tone, especially in NoPac, though isolated strength persisted in Australian coal.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
24-28/11/25 Agri
Dec 01, 2025
Wheat opened the week lower after Saudi Arabia’s tender came in sharply priced, while soybeans and corn also finished slightly weaker. Market reaction to the Trump–Xi call remained muted, particularly for soybeans, where repeated political signals have not delivered the expected demand. Saudi Arabia’s GFSA bought 300k tons of wheat for March–April arrival at $257.96–$259.74/t CnF, roughly $5–$5.50 below the previous tender, with February slots skipped. Russian 12.5% protein wheat eased by $1 to $228/t FOB according to IKAR, and MARS reported that winter-cereal sowing in Europe is largely complete under mostly favorable conditions. US winter wheat conditions improved to 48% good/excellent, two points above the five-year average.
USDA confirmed private sales of 123k tons of US soybeans to China, bringing known 25/26 sales to 1.94 mmt, with an additional 0.62 mmt sold to “unknown” since October. Weekly US export inspections showed 799k tons of soybeans, 1,632k tons of corn, and 475k tons of wheat. No soybeans were shipped to China, leaving total inspections well behind last year’s levels.
