Weekly Freight Recap: 01/05/25
May 01, 2025
PANAMAX Atlantic: The Atlantic 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. Despite some isolated fixtures, overall momentum remained muted, and many participants adopted a wait-and-see approach.
Pacific: The Pacific continued its downward trend, weighed down by a growing tonnage list and subdued inquiry. Trades from North Pacific and Australia lost ground, with weaker bids pushing owners to test lower levels. Activity out of Indonesia also slowed, offering little support. While tonnage remains tight in some pockets, overall sentiment in the region weakened, keeping rates under pressure.
SUPRAMAX Atlantic: The Atlantic Supramax market remained lackluster, with the US Gulf under continued pressure due to weak demand and oversupply. The South Atlantic offered relatively more stability, though fixtures remained limited. Sentiment across the Continent and Mediterranean stayed cautious, with little fresh enquiry to provide upward momentum.
Pacific: The Pacific Supramax segment faced a quiet week, with holidays dampening activity and many participants still absent post-conference. Indonesian coal business provided some support, but overall fresh cargo was limited, and rates slipped slightly. Owners held firm where possible, but pressure remained from the growing number of open vessels.
HANDYSIZE Atlantic: The Atlantic Handysize market remained under pressure, especially in the US Gulf and Mediterranean, where demand failed to pick up. The Continent saw steady but unspectacular activity, while the South Atlantic offered slightly firmer sentiment due to steady grain flows. Still, overall activity was light, and rate levels continued to face downward pressure.
Pacific: The Pacific Handysize market held mostly flat, with little change in fundamentals. Tonnage levels remained high, particularly in Southeast Asia, while cargo inquiry stayed thin. A few fixtures provided limited support, but the market lacked the drive to push rates meaningfully higher.
Weekly Recaps
Freight
Freight Recap:
03/07/25
Jul 03, 2025
The Panamax market held broadly steady this week, though signs of softening began to emerge toward the close, particularly in areas where prompt tonnage began to outpace fresh demand. Across the Atlantic, sentiment remained mixed.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
23–27/06/25 Agri
Jun 30, 2025
The week opened with a sharp pullback across grain markets as the geopolitical risk premium evaporated following U.S. President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. While the truce remained fragile—lacking official confirmation from Israel—market sentiment quickly pivoted back to fundamentals. Pressure mounted as U.S. crop conditions were mixed and EU wheat yield projections were revised higher, particularly in southern and eastern Europe. U.S. export inspections provided little optimism, with soybeans and wheat underperforming, and fund positioning indicated heavy corn selling alongside increased soybean buying.
Freight
Freight Recap:
26/06/25
Jun 19, 2025
The Panamax market continued to show resilience this week, holding around the USD 12,800/day level on the 5TC index. Gains were seen across both basins, driven by steady demand and tightening tonnage in key loading areas.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
16–20/06/25 Agri
Jun 23, 2025
Monday opened with wheat and corn giving back gains from the prior session, pressured by generally favorable U.S. crop outlooks. Corn conditions improved to 72% good-to-excellent (G/E), aligning with last year’s level, while soybean ratings declined to 66% G/E. Winter wheat condition unexpectedly slipped, and harvest progress remained significantly delayed. Export inspections showed continued strength for corn, while soybean oil surged on tighter-than-expected NOPA stocks. Geopolitics hovered in the background as Iran signaled a desire to avoid escalation with Israel, while Turkey offered to mediate talks.
