Cement News tagged under: Freight Markets

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Chinese New Year quietens market

01 February 2004, Published under Cement News

There is a little bit of irony to see that during the same week, when China announced its final figures of GDP for 2003, which finally reached 9.10 per cent, when the latest monthly report from the IISI shows record steel production for the same period, the dry bulk market has been down for the first time for a while. The long festive Chinese New Year celebrations can be considered as the main responsible, and the situation should be back to normal progressively. The Capesize market has been...

Dry bulk markets remain high

20 January 2004, Published under Cement News

Despite the forthcoming Chinese New Year this week, which will probably have an impact on the overall activity, the dry bulk markets continue their steady rise, and especially, the Cape sector recorded new highs with some modern vessels fixed above the US$100,000/day mark for fronthaul trips. Among the factors which contribute to the rise of rates, one mustn't forget the brisk rise of bunker prices, which have increased by $25/t, basis delivery Rotterdam, within five days. A good number of s...

Good start to the year

13 January 2004, Published under Cement News

We had to wait the turn of the year, to see the BCI breaking the 5,000 point mark, but it finally did. After a break of almost two weeks, the current one started with some hesitation but rapidly, both the Capesize, Panamax and HandyMax and Handysize market moved on an upward trend. All sizes and routes have been affected by the rapid rise of the market but a great number of fixtures have been concluded and in the Panamax sector period rates have reached news highs. The BCI, now at 7,349, has...

Christmas cheer continues

28 December 2003, Published under Cement News

The Christmas break will come now very soon but until the very end days of December, the dry bulk markets, will have maintained their firm note. The Capesize market has continued to see rates rise, especially for time-charters and periods, while the voyage market was roughly steady, despite the increase of bunker prices. The Panamax sector encountered unchanged conditions, with a large number of ships taken for periods above $US30,000/day, while also voyage rates didn't move much from one we...

Christmas cheer

21 December 2003, Published under Cement News

We are now less than two weeks before Christmas, and the dry bulk markets show no sign of a possible slowdown. This is confirmed on the voyage market where rates continues their steady rise, as well as on the period market with a lot of tonnage taken for one or two years (particularly for Panamaxes which reached new records), but also on the newbuilding front  where a good number of contracts have been placed for all sizes of ships. It is still amazing to notice that despite a huge backlog o...