Cement News tagged under: Freight Markets
Waiting for the upturn18 May 2004, Published under Cement NewsThe longer you can wait the more you win, could be the best way to describe charterers’ position this week on almost all dry bulk markets. No clear sign of any upward trend in the short term has emerged on the market yet, so everybody seems convinced that next week could again end on a weaker note. In this "low pressure" context the Atlantic basin showed some better resistance. Thanks to a higher number of Cape fixtures in the East their situation almost stabilised by the end of the week. Pa... |
Going strong but no storm yet11 May 2004, Published under Cement NewsAfter the strong correction recorded last week on all dry bulk markets and as expected by most players the overall situation stabilised over the last five trading days. Capes continued to lose some ground but to a lesser extent. The upturn we noticed on the Panamax rates at the very end of last week was the start of a stronger trend, still not due to a long awaited grain " harvest " in the Atlantic, but to a surge in ore business. Handies did not benefit from this wave but some pockets of ac... |
Wait-and-see04 May 2004, Published under Cement NewsAll dry bulk markets recorded a strong correction, which surprised everyone. Contrary to the previous weeks the Capes have been the most affected in this global downturn. The feeling is that it is an over reaction to Chinese authorities’ declared willingness to reduce the steam of their economic engine. There was already some signs of stabilisation for Panamax tonnage by the end of the week and rumours that some charterers are playing the waiting game before coming back in the market. ... |
Panamaxes slip, Handies follow27 April 2004, Published under Cement NewsThe overall upward trend the market recorded last week was short -ived and figures started to fall again. Panamaxes were the first and the most affected by the downturn, as the grain season is starting on a slower mood than expected. Handies also suffered from the situation, while the Cape market still remains very firm despite rates seemed to level out in the second part of the week. In the news this week some leading dry bulk operators have released their fiscal 2003 and first quarter 2004... |
Markets are looking up22 April 2004, Published under Cement NewsAfter several weeks of a steady fall, rates seem to be on their way up again for all sizes. Capes were prompt to react especially in the Pacific and the number of ships open remains limited. The Panamax market is burgeoning on two branches, with an intense coal activity driven by the Japanese in the Pacific area and the attraction of the South American grain season now ready to start. Despite a more intense fixing activity, following the same path as larger sizes, Handymax rates are slower t... |
Cautious optimism for intensified trading15 April 2004, Published under Cement NewsThe dry bulk market sees through a static period at the moment. With the Easter week having passed, a rather dull period is hoped to have come to an end. The future prospect of intensified world-wide trading up to the summer is expected with cautiousness, especially with the grain harvests on the Southern hemisphere starting in due course. Major steel producers are planning output rises, which could be warmly received by the market. On the other hand, the continuous rise of steel prices rema... |
Rate improvements across the board yet to materialise06 April 2004, Published under Cement NewsAfter a short pause marked by the spot Cape market during the previous week, the last five trading days have recorded a deeper dive of rates. In a low volume of business Capesize rates have fallen back to the levels they had six months ago, except for long commitments (over one year) for which some deals have again broken record figures. Despite some more activity in the Atlantic, rates have failed to progress for Panamaxes as there are still a lot of ships available in the area, but the sit... |
Under pressure30 March 2004, Published under Cement NewsThe turmoil in which the Capes were navigating for two weeks seemed to calm down but by the end of the week the overall activity started to slow down again. Despite the Atlantic Panamax market seeing some more fixing activity, rates remained under pressure due to the number of ships willing to stay in the area. Handymax rates kept on sliding downwards. The Atlantic Panamax market continued to be active with owners still keen to... |
No major pick-up as yet24 March 2004, Published under Cement NewsThe downward trend that the market has been feeling since the middle of last week, mainly due to congestion and force majeure problems in Australian ports and a slow start to the South American grain season, has again curbed rates this week. This has been highly sensitive for Capsize tonnage and to a lesser extent for Panamax ships. Both owners and charterers seem to be waiting for the situation to settle, just fixing short-term commitments and thinking that this correction is no more than t... |
Volatile markets17 March 2004, Published under Cement NewsAs it was anticipated last week, dry bulk markets were volatile. The Capesize segment ended the week just a few points above the previous week after a mid week downward correction. Panamaxes have regained the ground lost over the past three weeks, but a slowdown in activity was felt during the last two trading days. The HandyMax market remains firm, as it has been since early February. Record-breaking prices have been achieved for yard-resale transactions with prompt deliveries now approachi... |