Weekly Freight Recap: 08/05/25
May 08, 2025
PANAMAX Atlantic: 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.
Pacific: The Pacific continued to struggle with downward pressure as oversupply of vessels persisted, particularly in the Far East. Slow cargo replenishment and weak demand on both NoPac and Australian rounds led to further softening of sentiment. Owners faced increasingly cautious charterers, resulting in thinner negotiations and little sign of short-term improvement.
SUPRAMAX Atlantic: The Atlantic Supramax market remained positional, with scattered demand from the US Gulf and South Atlantic regions. While there were signs of strength in the South Atlantic, the Continent and Mediterranean continued to lack momentum. Fixing activity remained limited, and although some owners held firm, rate direction appeared uncertain amid a generally quiet environment.
Pacific: Asia remained under pressure due to rising tonnage availability and limited fresh demand. Weak sentiment persisted across Southeast Asia, while the Indian Ocean offered some stronger numbers, particularly from South Africa. Isolated fixtures were reported, but overall, the market lacked sufficient cargo to reverse the softening trend.
HANDYSIZE Atlantic: The Handysize market in the Atlantic held steady with minimal changes. While fresh demand surfaced in the US Gulf and South Atlantic, it remained insufficient to absorb the growing list of open tonnage. The Continent and Mediterranean continued to show little activity, keeping sentiment flat and rates aligned with previous levels.
Pacific: The Pacific market remained flat with no major changes in fundamentals. Tonnage availability continued to build, and limited fresh enquiries kept pressure on rates. Fixtures were sparse, and activity was subdued across the region, with owners struggling to push for firmer levels in a quiet environment.
Weekly Recaps
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.
Commodities
Agri- Commodities:
20-14/4/25 Agri
Apr 28, 2025
The week began with an early surge in CBOT grain prices, which quickly reversed despite continued weakness in the U.S. dollar. Wheat markets focused on contrasting crop conditions, with French soft wheat ratings stable at 75% good/excellent, while U.S. winter wheat ratings slipped by 2 points to 45% good/excellent, below expectations. Corn and soybean planting progress outpaced historical norms, with 12% and 8% of crops planted, respectively. Export inspections surpassed forecasts, especially for corn and wheat, reinforcing underlying demand. Speculative fund activity surged, with funds aggressively buying corn and soybeans, flipping their net position in soybeans to a net long for the first time in months.
