Weekly Freight Recap: 24/04/25
Apr 24, 2025
PANAMAX Atlantic: The Atlantic market reopened from the Easter break with a cautious tone. Tonnage remained tight off the Continent, helping stabilize sentiment in the north, while the South Atlantic appeared steady, particularly for early index window arrivals. However, with grain exports expected to ease soon, expectations remain muted and activity remains largely positional.
Pacific: In the Pacific, the market firmed slightly, supported by mineral demand out of East Australia, though activity remained slow overall. Grain shipments from the North Pacific were limited, and while more vessels are heading toward Indonesia, high stock levels in China are capping any major upside. Sentiment held, but confidence remains fragile.
SUPRAMAX Atlantic: The Atlantic saw limited activity following the Easter period, with sentiment subdued and participants largely on standby. The Continent and Mediterranean lacked fresh cargoes, and tonnage lists began to lengthen. The US Gulf remained quiet, reflecting a general lack of momentum across the basin.
Pacific: Asia presented a slightly more active landscape, with renewed coal demand from Indonesia helping to support rates. While not yet enough to significantly shift the balance, owners were more confident in holding their levels. The Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia also showed stable interest, keeping sentiment modestly positive.
HANDYSIZE Atlantic: A quiet start in the Atlantic, with both the Continent and South America showing stable fundamentals but minimal fresh activity. The US Gulf also remained slow, and while some fixtures were noted, overall sentiment remained flat with no significant rate changes.
Pacific: The Pacific market stayed under pressure amid a lack of fresh demand. Southeast Asia and the North Pacific saw limited enquiry, keeping the market soft. With little to shift the current outlook, rates continued to trend slightly lower.
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.
