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
Freight
Freight Recap:
05/06/25
Jun 05, 2025
The Panamax Atlantic market showed signs of a strong rebound, especially in both the North and South where firmer bids and tightening tonnage contributed to rising sentiment. Fixtures suggested that some charterers may have overplayed their hand, triggering a jump in rates
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
26–30 /5/25 Agri
Jun 02, 2025
Monday opened quietly in Europe as U.S. markets remained closed for Memorial Day. MATIF wheat traded lower in thin volumes, but losses were limited by concerns over dry conditions in France and rising temperatures in Russia. The May JRC MARS Bulletin painted a mixed EU crop outlook, nudging soft wheat yield estimates slightly higher but trimming rapeseed expectations. Meanwhile, geopolitical noise grew louder with President Trump mulling new sanctions against Russia, and Germany lifting range restrictions on Ukrainian strikes using Western weapons.
Freight
Freight Recap:
29/05/25
May 29, 2025
The Atlantic market struggled with weak sentiment throughout the week. Following recent holidays, demand remained soft and fresh cargoes were limited, particularly in the North. In the South, while some fixing activity was noted, oversupply of ships continued to weigh heavily on rates. Owners faced increasing pressure as charterers held firm, and some vessels were reported fixing below last done.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
19-23/5/25 Agri
May 26, 2025
Grain markets exhibited volatility throughout Week 21, with wheat prices leading a mid-week rally before easing slightly into the weekend. Early in the week, MATIF milling wheat weakened in response to Saudi Arabia’s tender, which confirmed continued preference for competitively priced Black Sea wheat. Meanwhile, CBOT futures found strength, buoyed by a broader risk-on sentiment in financial markets after a brief dip following Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. U.S. corn inspections came in strong, and planting progress remained well ahead of the five-year average, though winter wheat conditions unexpectedly declined. On the geopolitical front, markets briefly reacted to the news of prospective ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia, although subsequent clarifications tempered expectations.
