Weekly Freight Recap: 30/01/25
Jan 30, 2025
PANAMAX
Atlantic: The Panamax market continued to struggle, with limited fresh demand across the region. The North Atlantic saw some fronthaul inquiries, but these had little impact on overall sentiment. The South Atlantic remained under pressure, with a slight indication of stabilization for P6 index dates, though nearby positions continued to weaken. Rates for trans-Atlantic trades remained subdued as tonnage availability exceeded requirements, leading to further rate softening.
Pacific: The Pacific market was notably quiet due to the Lunar New Year, with minimal activity and very few fixtures reported. The limited demand made it difficult to gauge market direction, though sentiment remained flat to negative. Longer rounds were bid well below index levels, and Indonesian cargoes showed little movement. With market fundamentals unchanged, further corrections were seen in the region.
SUPRAMAX
Atlantic: The Supramax market saw another slow week, with the South Atlantic continuing to face downward pressure due to high tonnage availability. Some players felt that the US Gulf market had found a temporary floor, but the lack of fresh activity made this difficult to confirm. In the Mediterranean and Continent, limited enquiry meant rates remained under pressure, with owners struggling to find suitable employment at last done levels.
Pacific: The Asian market remained quiet with the Lunar New Year celebrations keeping activity at a minimum. With very little fresh enquiry emerging, rates continued to drift lower, mirroring the sluggish demand in the Atlantic. Cargo volumes from Southeast Asia and Australia remained low, contributing to a lack of momentum in the basin.
HANDYSIZE
Atlantic: The Handysize market remained subdued, with soft sentiment persisting across both basins. In the Continent and Mediterranean, there was some sporadic fixing, but not enough to shift overall market levels. The US Gulf and South Atlantic saw a few fresh inquiries, but the excess tonnage in the region prevented any meaningful rate improvement. Rates remained under pressure, with some fixtures reported below last done levels.
Pacific: As expected, the Asian market had a very quiet week due to Chinese New Year, with fundamentals remaining unchanged. Market participation was extremely limited, and rates continued to reflect weak demand. With many players still away, there was little expectation of a near-term improvement in sentiment, leaving the basin in a stagnant state.
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
