Cement News tagged under: Freight Markets

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Steelmaker plans could affect longer-term rates

18 May 2005, Published under Cement News

While European steelmakers are, one after another, sending warnings about their financial results for the year 2005, the Chinese steel and coal sectors are on the edge of a global restructuring movement, which follows the unprecedented growth these industries recorded over the past three years. Of course the European steel industry suffers from a lower demand in its historical markets, but it also now has to face a stronger competition on overseas business. On a more positive note the larges...

Some stability after recent falls

11 May 2005, Published under Cement News

While things are stabilizing on most dry bulk market after the quite sharp fall recorded over the last two weeks, the whole dry bulk shipping and industrial world is living with the almost daily announcements of historical profit levels. This week Arcelor, Diana, MBC, Precious among others published unprecedented first quarter results… and remain globally optimistic for the whole year 2005. On the downside, some economists already see the start of a melt down of the recent Chinese boom, whic...

Rate falls in most sectors

03 May 2005, Published under Cement News

There is a sharp contrast at presenrt between the drastic fall recorded on most dry bulk markets and the overall optimism that still apparently prevails in the news with most articles or press releases dealing with healthy first quarter results, miners output growth, record ship’s values, massive en-bloc sales …                 The Panamax Pacific market really collapsed last week with round voyage rates hovering around ...

Rates holding firm in unsettled markets

13 April 2005, Published under Cement News

Despite the uncertainty some analysts have recently expressed (again) about the course and speed of the Chinese economy - particularly concerning the steel demand, elsewhere the need to ensure the supply of raw materials to Asian clients forced Australian mining companies into consolidation. BHP have taken over fellow miner WMC in a AUS$95m. deal. Meanwhile, mining companies Down Under have demanded port rationalisation from the central government to maintain a steady flow of iron ore, most ...

Markets remain unsettled

08 April 2005, Published under Cement News

The news front the week has been marked by the troubled negotiations on steel prices between Chinese steel mills and their suppliers. After mills accepted the now benchmark level of 71.5 per cent rise in iron ore prices from CVRD and Rio Tinto, negotiations failed with BHP, on a proposal from the latter to add a US$7.5-10/t premium mainly to cover the rise in shipping costs.                 Simultaneously the Chinese government stated that they will "more strictl...

Market activity reflected in increased rates

30 March 2005, Published under Cement News

Last week was not so quiet on dry bulk markets despite the absence of some players for Easter festivities by the end of the week. This steady level of fixtures stopped the fall in Cape rates. Situation was almost similar in the Panamax segment but the level of business in the East remained subdued. The Handy market remained tight particularly in the Atlantic where rates have again progressed for prompt tonnage. A mixed feeling is emerging from the news this week. On the bright side first, a ...

Hot and cold news influences markets

23 March 2005, Published under Cement News

The lack of business that started to weigh down the Cape market last week has kept on bearing on the figures this week. However the last two trading days have seen some fixtures and stems coming to surface, allowing rates to stop their free fall. The sustained activity we saw last week on the Panamax market did not repeat, particularly in the East where rates plunged even deeper. This gloomy picture is in sharp contrast with what the Handymax market recorded in both basins, as the steady flo...

Mixed signals in the dry bulk sector

16 March 2005, Published under Cement News

Contrary to last week where almost all dry bulk markets levelled off, freight rates evolution this week started to diverge. The Capes did not confirmed the positive outlook promised by the end of last week upturn which quickly faded, and rates declined all over the week, however everyone still believes that this should only be temporary. Surprisingly this time Panamax tonnage has taken the driving seat and thanks to a sustained activity in the Atlantic and a steady level of business in the P...

The downs and ups of freighting costs

09 March 2005, Published under Cement News

Despite the rather unanimous fall in rates recorded this week, which is in line with what had been anticipated, the last 24 hours of the week have given some signals of an upward trend. Everyone already feel that April or May requirements will soon need to be covered and will capture the tight volume of tonnage still available on the market. Asia has given the start to this movement but the Atlantic market may follow soon. So, figures are down but the market is still firm. ...

Rates keep on rising

22 February 2005, Published under Cement News

After the upturn of the market last week, rates have kept on rising over the last five trading days. Levels which were talked about a week ago have been achieved for all segments of the dry bulk fleet. Everyone is wondering if the feared influence of holidays in Asia has not been exaggerated and if this rush is not predicting a stall? Such question have been repeated so many times since the winter 2003, with each time nothing really significant happening that the horizon for market players r...