Coal news and updates

Shipping markets show mixed emotions

The dry bulk market has managed to show marginal improvements over the past few days, with the Capesize segment faring better than smaller dry bulk segments, like the Handy and Supra markets. Similarly, the market for Gas Carriers has quieted down after a very busy week. Meanwhile, in the newbuilding market, things may have picked up in the past couple of weeks, but still activity is deemed as rather low.

Commenting on the Capesize market, shipbroker Fearnleys noted that “after a positive start to the week with increased number of cargoes particularly in the east, rates were improving. West Australia to China was up from usd 5,00 to usd 5,50 in short time. However, with a lack of cargoes out of Brazil, the Pacific rates were again under pressure. Period activity has been more or less non existing”.

Meanwhile, in the Panamax market, Fearnleys noted that “so far a relatively quiet week for Panamax with rates coming off in the Atlantic basin. Few fresh requirements and more open tonnage pushing rates down. Alantic rounds pending around USD 6000 midweek and the trend still weakening. ECSA and also USG grain has been the main driver in the fronthaul market and USG paying high 12000 + 270/280 bb this week. Some iore also done lately but same has unfortunately not had any visible impact on the rates. The eastern hemisphere also weakening with less orders activity and falling rates. Indo india coal paying typically 7k, Nopac maybe tic more. Limited period activity, weak paper forecast and expectations it will remain low keep the players off the field”.

In the Handy segment, Fearnleys added that “the handy and supra markets have been sliding the last couple of weeks. We still see the same tendency, but the market seems more positional this week. Out of the USG we see more cargoes coming up for 2nd half September / beg October. This could again lead to a pressure on rates going forward. ECSA is still active with 12k being done for trips to Med. In the Eastern hemisphere we see the same tendency and more orders coming out for NoPac delivery. Short Indo rounds are concluded in region of USD 5k while longer durations destined for India are fixing with an 8 in front. Period market is still present with shorter periods being concluded in region of 7,5k bss Spore delivery”, the shipbroker noted.

Meanwhile, in the Gas tanker segment, Fearnleys said that “after a busy week in the VLGC market last week, things quieted down somewhat this week. Although much so due to industry functions and events taking market players away from their desks, it has also been a matter of the usual wait for acceptances (both for this week and the next). The somewhat limited number of September loaders available in the Middle-East market prior the start of the week, has been further reduced this week with help from India. Two ships has been placed on subs, and another two cargoes are being worked in time of writing. In the Western market, a West Africa FOB has attracted a few traders attention, and one ship has been put on subs here too pending award. The Baltic reference freight route from AG to Japan has been moving sideways with only an increase of about one dollar W-o-W. The biggest headline this week in terms of newbuilding, is the confirmed order of two Panamax 78’s for delivery in 2017 against 10-year time charters to Phillips66″, the shipbroker concluded.

In the newbuilding market, shipbroker Intermodal noted that “despite the recent pick-up in ordering activity that took place in a traditionally quiet time for the market, the newbuilding industry is still going through difficult times, while expectations that sooner rather than later tanker orders should also slow down are growing. In both China and S. Korea a series of shipyards continue to face severe financial problems and while in most cases extensive restructuring plans are trying to tackle operating losses that skyrocketed this year, optimism is admittedly limited, with the recent cut in all of Hyundai, Samsung and Daewoo’s credit ratings, confirming this adverse reality for the S. Korean yards. In terms of newbuilding orders coming to light last week, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation’s massive order for 9 firm VLOCs was definitely the most notable one, while the fact that all units ordered by the Japanese firm were done so on the back of long T/Cs, makes the size of the order easy to digest, as it has been long since similar dry bulk orders were being inked with no scheduled employment. In terms of recently reported deals Greek owner, Eletson Gas has placed an order for two firm LPG carriers (38,000cbm) and one firm ethylene carrier (12,000cbm) at Hyundai Mipo, in S. Korea, for $51.0m and $38.0m respectively and delivery set in 2017″, the shipbroker concluded.

source: http://coalspot.com