Cement News tagged under: Freight Markets
Hot and cold news influences markets23 March 2005, Published under Cement NewsThe 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 sector16 March 2005, Published under Cement NewsContrary 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 costs09 March 2005, Published under Cement NewsDespite 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 rising22 February 2005, Published under Cement NewsAfter 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... |
Volume of business improving16 February 2005, Published under Cement NewsThe wait and see feeling which was widely shared last week doesn’t seem to be charterers’ view any longer. The volume of business this week has been firmer on almost all segments of the dry bulk markets. Capes reacted first in an already tight market and rates recorded some sharp increases especially in the Pacific where r/v are now heading towards the $75,000 per day figure. Panamax rates have also been dragged by a rather strong fixing activity in both basins. Even Handysize/max rates free... |
Charterers play the waiting game08 February 2005, Published under Cement NewsAfter the short rush of last week that pushed Capes and Panamax rates up again, the market seems now to play the waiting game with the Chinese New Year festivities about to start. However, despite the very low volume of business, Capes rates didn’t fall sharply due to the still tight fleet availability. A weaker market in the Atlantic and still a low volume of business in the East had some more impact on Panamax rates having lost all the ground gained last week. This context has even more af... |
Markets regain some lost ground02 February 2005, Published under Cement NewsActivity on dry bulk markets this week was in line what was expected. Capes have taken the driving seat and now with few ships remaining open prompt the market seems to be ready for another rally in case of any stronger comeback of charterers. Reacting a bit later Panamax tonnage has started to regain some ground by mid week on the back of an interest towards period charters in both basins. The Handy market was the only one to stay out of the game with rates steadily declining over... |
Mixed signals from the market26 January 2005, Published under Cement NewsDry bulk markets have continued to slide last week but on Friday the general feeling was that next week will see a comeback of charterers particularly in the East, which should reverse the trend in the short term. Some freight rates already showed signs of stabilisation by the end of the week. The situation is less clear in the Atlantic and it could take some more time to recover. After a positive start to the year the Panamax market took a diff... |
First signs of weakness?18 January 2005, Published under Cement NewsAfter the very prompt reaction of the market, which started mid-last week, it now seems that charterers have disappeared from the charts! The end of last week was very quiet and rates started to feel the pinch of this absence. Some Capes and Panamax ships remain unfixed out of this short-lived rally but it is hard to believe that Asian charterers can stay away from the market for long. Despite this, the Atlantic market has remained rather balanced and has so far offered a better resistance t... |
Markets regain upward momentum13 January 2005, Published under Cement NewsWith overall demand still very firm the market remains on the edge and will react upwards to any return of charterers. This week Cape rates have made a U-turn regaining almost all the ground lost earlier in the week and taking off the market the few ships available. The Panamax market was the quickest to firm up with significant gains in both basins. No doubt the Handysize/max segment is also on its way up but as usual a little bit more sketchy, at least some interesting fixtures reveal that... |