Dry bulk markets were mixed and relatively quiet this week. The Capesize sector traded steady on flagging spot demand despite an increase in Chinese iron ore demand and rising Dalian steel futures. The Panamax sector was the upside leader for the week, primarily due to Pacific demand. Freight markets need more physical demand to support rates, and that demand is being actively undermined by trade wars, tariffs, and port fees.
Capesize markets are seeing enquiries from miners for early November dates with Aussie demand remaining quiet but offset with larger interest from other Pacific countries. For C3 rates from Brazil and/or West Africa, the market’s attention is now on late November or early December dates. Vessel availabili...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...