Weekly Freight Recap: 03/04/25
Apr 03, 2025
PANAMAX Atlantic: The market showed mixed signals, with some resistance from owners despite growing pressure on certain trades. Demand from South America remained steady, preventing a sharp decline in vessel employment in Southeast Asia. However, the North Atlantic continued to see an increase in available tonnage, with fewer fresh cargo inquiries, leading to a more cautious outlook.
Pacific: Uncertainty persisted, with slowing cargo interest from key loading regions, partly due to holiday disruptions. While owners held firm on rate expectations, declining demand for shipments from North America and Australia added to concerns. The upcoming wave of exports from South America is expected to provide short-term support, though macroeconomic factors and reduced coal shipments continue to weigh on long-term sentiment.
SUPRAMAX Atlantic: Market conditions remained uneven, with the US Gulf and South America presenting varied opportunities. While transatlantic runs showed some improvement, overall sentiment remained fragile. The European market remained subdued, with slow demand and limited fixtures.
Pacific: Tonnage availability continued to rise, while fresh inquiries were scarce. The region remained under pressure, and despite occasional fixtures, there were few signs of a broader market shift. Global holidays contributed to the slower pace of activity.
HANDYSIZE Atlantic: The market remained relatively unchanged, with stable fundamentals in Europe. While there was some fresh demand in the US Gulf and South America, it was not enough to significantly impact overall availability. Rates held steady without major fluctuations.
Pacific: The region also saw little movement, with a buildup of tonnage but no significant changes in demand. Cargo availability remained consistent with prior levels, and overall market sentiment remained cautious.
Weekly Recaps
Freight
Freight Recap:
11/12/25
Dec 11, 2025
The dry bulk market saw a softer overall tone, with Handysize holding largely flat, Supramax weakening across both basins, and Panamax continuing its decline despite some localized Atlantic support. Activity levels remained muted in many regions, with owners increasingly seeking cover ahead of the holiday period. The Atlantic showed mixed signals across segments, while the Pacific faced longer tonnage lists and weaker demand, keeping pressure on rates.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
01-05/12/25 Agri
Dec 08, 2025
USDA announced no new flash sales, disappointing soybean markets. Weekly export sales remain delayed and have not yet reached the period covering the US–China trade deal, leaving the true pace of buying uncertain. CBOT corn and wheat eased, while March MATIF wheat posted small gains after finding support at intraday contract lows. ABARES raised Australia’s 2025/26 wheat, barley, and canola output, though the increases were broadly in line with expectations. Algeria’s OAIC issued a soft wheat tender for February shipment, and Russian wheat prices slipped again, with 12.5% FOB for January at $227/t.
Freight
Freight Recap:
04/12/25
Dec 04, 2025
The dry bulk market saw a generally mixed performance, with Handysize remaining supported in the Atlantic, Supramax showing uneven movement across regions, and Panamax continuing its correction as rising vessel supply weighed on sentiment. Atlantic dynamics were split between firmer US Gulf/US East Coast activity in the smaller segments and softer conditions for Panamax. In the Pacific, muted enquiry and longer lists contributed to a softer tone, especially in NoPac, though isolated strength persisted in Australian coal.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
24-28/11/25 Agri
Dec 01, 2025
Wheat opened the week lower after Saudi Arabia’s tender came in sharply priced, while soybeans and corn also finished slightly weaker. Market reaction to the Trump–Xi call remained muted, particularly for soybeans, where repeated political signals have not delivered the expected demand. Saudi Arabia’s GFSA bought 300k tons of wheat for March–April arrival at $257.96–$259.74/t CnF, roughly $5–$5.50 below the previous tender, with February slots skipped. Russian 12.5% protein wheat eased by $1 to $228/t FOB according to IKAR, and MARS reported that winter-cereal sowing in Europe is largely complete under mostly favorable conditions. US winter wheat conditions improved to 48% good/excellent, two points above the five-year average.
USDA confirmed private sales of 123k tons of US soybeans to China, bringing known 25/26 sales to 1.94 mmt, with an additional 0.62 mmt sold to “unknown” since October. Weekly US export inspections showed 799k tons of soybeans, 1,632k tons of corn, and 475k tons of wheat. No soybeans were shipped to China, leaving total inspections well behind last year’s levels.
