Despite positive indication for a significant surge of dry bulk demand this year, the oversupply problems of the market, will continue to weigh heavily in terms of freight rates. Yesterday, the BDI was up by 9 points to 743, with Panamaxes posting an increase of 35 points to 717 (Baltic Panamax Index), which was enough to push the market higher, as all other subsectors were mostly unchanged. According to a recent note from analysts Commodore Research & Consultancy, "Chinese demand for imported thermal coal has started the week at an extremely robust level and is poised to stay strong during the remainder of this week. 8 vessels were chartered to haul thermal coal cargoes to China on Monday (including 7 panamax vessels). This was a huge amount for a single day's worth of chartering activity.
During times of moderate demand, an average of 3 vessels are normally chartered to haul thermal coal cargoes to China each day. Demand is poised to stay robust throughout this week and into next week due to low Chinese coal port stockpiles and intensifying winter electricity demand. Coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao (China's largest coal port) have fallen to 6.1 million tons. This is well below the crucial 7mt level that officials strive to maintain at all Coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao times (Qinhuangdao is of great importance to Chinese officials, as it is the loading have fallen to 6.1mt, which is port for approximately 40% of China's coastal coal shipments)" said the analyst.
Still, according to Commodore, panamax rates aren't expected to find significant support in the near term. "We continue to anticipate that newbuilding deliveries will be very high this month. Dry bulk fleet growth traditionally surges every January, as owners normally delay a large amount of December deliveries to be delivered one month later in January. Delaying December deliveries allows owners to receive vessels that will be viewed as being a year younger. A year ago, for example, saw 19 panamax vessels delivered in December 2011 and then 39 delivered in January 2012. Delaying delivery just one month allowed owners to obtain a 2012-built vessel, rather than a 2011-built vessel. We strongly believe this trend will continue this year, which makes it unlikely that panamax rates will find significant support in the near term (the panamax market is currently the most oversupplied dry bulk vessel class and we expect it will remain so during all of 2013). The surge in Chinese thermal coal demand, however, is a positive sign regarding the Chinese economy and the Asian thermal coal market" it concluded.
In a separate note yesterday, shipbroker Fearnleys noted on the Panamax market that "some glimmers of hope mid-week with more cargoes entering the market, especially in the Atlantic. Some owners with ships able to breach IWL are able to get a premium for prompt cargoes, but regular Tarvs are now being fixed at around USD 6500 while fhauls with Continent delivery will fetch around USD 13-14k. In the Pacific we see rates at around USD 3-4k for round trips, more cargoes however will the number of ships absorb these cargoes? The period market has been somewhat more active beginning 2013 with a 2-year deals being done at USD 6.5 for an older vessel and around USD 7500 achievable for LME´s" it said.
In the Capesize market, Fearnleys said that "the past week has seen gradual increases in rates across all fronts in the Cape sector, both on the physical and paper side. Strong volume has come out of West Australia, causing rates to climb from USD 7 to 7.20 pmt, with prompt tonnage booked closer to the USD 8 pmt mark. However, at the time of writing, caution is being exercised in light of the approaching cyclone off the West Australia coast, and it remains to be seen whether this will put downward pressure on rates or not. Whilst Vale remains quiet, sentiment has slightly improved on fhaul, with better rates achieved for
Tubarao/China (around 17.5 USD pmt). Similarly, slightly firmer numbers are being discussed for period business, with USD 8500 being done for 5-8 months, and a healthier USD 10,750 rate achieved for 9-13 months" the shipbroker concluded.