Freight Markets
Baltic gains reflect increased trading activities
Hard to comprehend, the continuing desire to convert aging single-skin VLCCs to dry bulk carriers still
Pakistan cement exports to Middle East and African increase
High demand of Pakistan’s cement in the Middle East and African countries has enhanced significantly country’s exports by 80 percent in the three quarters of the current fiscal year to stand at 2.632M
Export coal shortages could impact on rates
Coal markets have tended to dominate the news of late with reports of further congestion at Australia’s main export loaders likely to limit volumes for the foreseeable future with one report sug
Freight rates bounce back in February
The Baltic Dry Index jumped 1000 points last week as confidence returned to the dry bulk market and expectations grew for more iron ore cargos, especially out of Brazil which had seen some supply disr
Markets show more instability
Another frenetic week in the dry bulk market with more huge fluctuations in rates and plenty of drama behind the scenes. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) finished ast Friday at 6462, down nearly 1500 on th
Oversupply factors begin to bite
The Baltic Panamax Index went down by 412 points mid-December, finishing at 9394. The four TC’s average lost US$3,400, falling from US$79,100 per day to US$75,700. Last week’s drop in the
Merger mania hits mining sectors
In a move that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago, BHP Billiton confirmed last week that it had made a formal offer for rival Rio Tinto.
When will it all end?
There was only one game in town last week: the incredible leap in the Baltic Dry Index. For the first time in its twenty-two year history the BDI breached the 10,000 mark, propelled by runaway rates i
No end in sight to market gains
If any more evidence were needed that drybulk rates have gone through the roof, this week saw the Baltic Capesize Index record its biggest ever one-day gain, equivalent to a rise of 6%. The jaw-droppi
A time for reflection perhaps?
While many shipowners are quietly publishing their financial results for the first half of the year reflecting the amazing levels achieved on the charter market, mining companies have been starting to
And still the markets climb higher!
The market is fixated on mergers and acquisitions in the mining sector this month with this spectacular $38.1bn bid by Rio on Alcan, surpassing the previous $28.8bn made by Alcoa.
Rate rises astonish the market
To much surprise, the indexes published by the Baltic for the Cape market have gained more than 1,630 points, i.e. +25% over the last five trading days, and 50% of this rise was done during the last t
Shipping markets on a roll
Another week of strong increases and with a rise of 341 points last week, the BPI reached a new record high of 6,283 points (the last record established was on the 1st of December 2004 with 6,110 pts)
Bulk markets are booming
It’s heating up! The growing interest for all parties to partake in the ever booming bulk market is reflected in all sorts of manners. With strong demand and persisting congestion in Australian coal p
Breaking the records
This is only the third time in history that the 7000 point barrier has been broken for the BCI.
Hungry for tonnage
Since the start of the year, and given that the market has not felt any ignificant downward pressure, both owners and charterers have been hungry for tonnage