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:
5-9/5/25 Agri
May 12, 2025
Grain markets faced a volatile week, marked by sharp price swings, shifting weather outlooks, and heightened geopolitical developments. The week began with broad-based losses, as favorable U.S. planting weather and declining oil prices pressured corn and wheat. Old crop corn tumbled over 3%, while MATIF milling wheat slid toward the critical €200 mark. Improved Black Sea rainfall forecasts further weighed on sentiment, with IKAR raising its Russian wheat crop estimate to 83.8 mmt. Meanwhile, U.S. planting progress remained steady but slightly below expectations, and winter wheat condition ratings exceeded forecasts, adding to the bearish tone.
Freight
Freight Recap:
08/05/25
May 08, 2025
The Atlantic Panamax market showed modest stability, with transatlantic activity supported by firm demand from North Coast South America and tight tonnage off the Continent. Grain business helped keep sentiment steady, though the southern part of the basin remained quiet with few fresh enquiries. Activity was limited due to holidays, but premium routes offered some support to rates despite a broadly sideways trend.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
28/4/-22/5/25 Agri
May 05, 2025
Grain markets navigated a complex mix of macroeconomic signals, weather developments, and geopolitical currents in Week 18, with wheat drawing the most attention amid volatile fund positioning and shifting sentiment. Early in the week, U.S. wheat futures led a broad decline across grain contracts as expectations for improved crop conditions took hold. These were confirmed late Monday by the Crop Progress report, which showed winter wheat ratings jumping to 49% good/excellent—surpassing market forecasts and matching last year’s figure. Favorable U.S. rainfall and continued planting progress in corn and soybeans reinforced the bearish tone, while a sharp uptick in wheat export inspections helped limit losses. Meanwhile, soybeans bucked the trend to close in the green, supported in part by robust export activity.
Freight
Freight Recap:
01/05/25
May 01, 2025
Panamax market softened over the week, with spot demand showing only limited support, particularly out of North Coast South America. Activity slowed across most areas, partly due to industry events and holidays. The Mediterranean saw a buildup in available tonnage, though sentiment remained cautiously firm.
