Weekly Freight Recap: 25/07/24
Jul 25, 2024
PANAMAX
Atlantic: The Atlantic Panamax market showed strength with tightening tonnage in the North Atlantic and additional cargoes in the South Atlantic. Notable fixtures included a vessel fixed for a North Coast South America to Skaw-Barcelona trip at a premium rate. The East Coast South America (ECSA) region remained stable, trading around 16,500/17,000 BKI. Although overall activity was subdued, the North Continent saw slight gains, supported by steady demand for Black Sea grain.
Pacific: In the Pacific, Panamax conditions were balanced despite potential disruptions from Typhoon Gaemi. Increased cargo flows and slightly longer tonnage lists were reported. Key fixtures included a North Pacific trip to the Singapore-Japan range and an East Coast Australia to Japan trip. Delays and port closures in China had minimal impact, with owners hopeful for continued market activity.
SUPRAMAX
Atlantic: The Atlantic Supramax market faced mixed fortunes with limited fresh inquiries from the Continent and Mediterranean. US Gulf fronthaul requirements lost momentum, but the South Atlantic showed resilience with stronger levels for later dates. Notable fixtures included a Texas to India petcoke trip and fresh orders for sulphur cargoes, supporting a positive outlook.
Pacific: In Asia, the Supramax market remained healthy with improved cargo volumes and limited prompt tonnage. Noteworthy fixtures included a North China to Arabian Gulf trip and a backhaul to the US Gulf. Indonesian and Southeast Asian markets saw rates around 18,000/19,000 levels for China-bound trips. Increased demand for period tonnage, particularly for Supramax and Ultramax sizes, reflected optimism.
HANDYSIZE
Atlantic:The Atlantic Handysize market was quiet, with limited activity and a marginal increase in the Baltic Handysize Index (BHSI). The Continent and Mediterranean slowed due to a lack of fresh inquiries, but the South Atlantic improved as vessel lists tightened. Notable fixtures included a Recalada to Morocco grain trip. US Gulf sentiment remained positive, driven by a tonnage-to-cargo imbalance.
Pacific: In the Pacific, the Handysize market faced softer tones with limited cargo availability from Australia and Indonesia. Activity was restrained, with notable fixtures including a Caribbean to Iceland trip. The general outlook remained cautious, with owners and charterers hoping for a more balanced supply-demand scenario.
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.
