Weekly Freight Recap: 23/01/25
Jan 23, 2025
PANAMAX Atlantic: The Atlantic market remained sluggish with limited fresh demand and an oversupply of tonnage. Transatlantic and fronthaul routes saw muted activity, and rates continued to soften. South American volumes offered some promise but failed to impact rates meaningfully, while the US Gulf remained quiet.
Pacific: The Pacific market weakened further, with long tonnage lists and softening demand weighing on sentiment. NoPac grain activity slowed, and Australian and Indonesian trades struggled at low levels. Limited optimism exists for recovery before mid-February.
SUPRAMAX Atlantic: Weak demand and abundant tonnage supply kept pressure on rates across the region. The US Gulf, Mediterranean, and South Atlantic markets showed minimal activity, with little improvement in sight.
Pacific: The Pacific market faced high vessel availability and subdued demand, with little pre-Chinese New Year activity. Owners adjusted expectations downward amid scarce fresh cargo opportunities.
HANDYSIZE Atlantic: Activity in the Atlantic remained limited, with an oversupply of tonnage weighing on sentiment. The US Gulf, South Atlantic, and Mediterranean markets offered few opportunities.
Pacific: The Pacific market struggled with growing vessel lists and weak demand, particularly in Southeast Asia. Rates remained under pressure with no signs of recovery.
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.
