Weekly Freight Recap: 09/01/25
Jan 09, 2025
PANAMAX
Atlantic: The Atlantic market began with initial strength due to limited New Year tonnage, but rates flattened as more vessels entered the region. In the south, oversupply led to discounted rates, and forward fixing remained cautious. Spot vessels maintained premiums, but lack of fresh demand in the north and a long tonnage list saw rates ease, favoring charterers. EC South America faced additional pressure from long ballast lists and sub-index equivalent fixtures for early February.
Pacific: Weak sentiment dominated, with limited volumes ex-Indonesia and an oversupply of tonnage weighing on rates. NoPac grains and petcoke cargoes provided modest support, while Australian rounds lagged. Despite an uptick in activity ex-Australia, the tonnage list continued to outpace demand. Anticipation for February’s Brazilian soybean exports is building, but short-term prospects remain weak.
SUPRAMAX
Atlantic: Subdued activity across the Atlantic saw rates remain soft amid oversupply in the Continent-Mediterranean, South Atlantic, and US Gulf. While trans-Atlantic runs showed relative stability, limited fresh inquiries kept sentiment poor. The East Mediterranean also remained under pressure, with minimal signs of improvement ahead of the holidays.
Pacific: Limited demand from Indonesia and Australia, coupled with a long tonnage list, kept rates under pressure. Fixtures for trips from North China with steels and other cargoes reflected muted sentiment. Slight positional strength appeared in some cases, but overall, the market lacked momentum, and rates continued to drift lower.
HANDYSIZE Atlantic: The Continent and Mediterranean markets faced weak demand and a long tonnage list, with rates reflecting soft conditions. In the South Atlantic, pre-holiday coverage provided minor activity, but weak fundamentals persisted. The US Gulf also saw limited fresh fixing opportunities, contributing to an overall quiet market.
Pacific: Activity showed a slight uptick, but an oversupply of vessels weighed on rates. Charterers held back, forcing owners to reduce offers to secure fixtures. While some stability appeared in the cargo book, rates remained under pressure with no immediate signs of a rebound.
Weekly Recaps
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
11-15/08/25 Agri
Aug 18, 2025
Grain markets experienced another volatile week as political developments, trade disputes, and bearish USDA data drove sentiment. Early in the week, soybeans surged on speculation that Chinese buying might resume following Donald Trump’s extension of tariff pauses, but corn and wheat failed to follow. Export inspections painted a mixed picture, with corn and soybeans performing well while wheat lagged. The USDA’s August WASDE loomed large over the market, with traders bracing for higher yield estimates.
Freight
Freight Recap:
14/08/25
Aug 14, 2025
The dry bulk market presented a mixed performance this week, with the Supramax segment edging higher, Handysize holding steady with minor gains, and Panamax showing a regional split — weaker in the Atlantic, firmer in the Pacific.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
04–08/08/25 Agri
Aug 11, 2025
Grain markets swung sharply this week, rebounding midweek before easing, driven by yield outlooks, export data, and geopolitical headlines.
Freight
Freight Recap:
7/08/25
Aug 07, 2025
Port of Callao halted operations after an Evergreen ship lost 50 containers during rough weather. Meanwhile, July's freight data shows the market stuck in a supply-heavy “holding pattern,” with capacity expanding but pricing rising faster — suggesting a slow, uneven recovery in logistics and transportation
