In the Black Sea river-sea coaster market, freight rates remain under pressure, although Turkish shipowners are showing resistance. This week, freight rates for 3,000 tons of wheat on the Azov–Marmara route declined from $47–48/ton to $42–43/ton. A similar drop was seen on the Rostov–Marmara route, where rates fell from $49–50/ton to $44–45/ton. On the Rostov–Mersin route, freight levels also lost ground, easing from $70–71/ton to $65–66/ton.

In the Black Sea conventional coaster market, reported freight levels remained unchanged. For 5,000-ton steel shipments on the Novorossiysk–Marmara route, rates stayed at $21–22/ton, while 5,000-ton wheat cargoes continued to trade around $23–24/ton.

In the larger vessel segment, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) recorded a strong increase this week, rising from 2,161 points to 2,567 points. A steady upward trend was observed across all segments throughout the week.

The Baltic Supramax Index (BSI) increased from 1,293 points to 1,415 points, with daily time charter equivalent (TCE) earnings rising from $16,344/day to $17,886/day.

Looking at Supramax routes, Black Sea–Far East earnings declined for the fourth consecutive week, contrary to the overall trend, falling from $18,163/day to $17,867/day. Meanwhile, Gulf–Far East routes recovered, with daily earnings rising from $21,836/day to $24,346/day. Far East averages also climbed sharply from $16,000/day to $17,586/day.

The Baltic Handysize Index (BHSI) finally reversed its downward trend and rebounded strongly from 694 points to 741 points. Daily TCE earnings also increased from $12,494/day to $13,337/day.

In the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Continent regions, Handysize freight rates are interestingly in free fall. On Black Sea–Mediterranean and Black Sea–Continent routes, earnings dropped from $10,000/day to as low as $8,500/day. Black Sea–Far East voyages also declined, with daily earnings falling from $14,000/day to $13,000/day.

On the South America–Continent route, earnings continued to rise, increasing from $19,017/day to $20,700/day. Far East averages also improved, climbing from $12,852/day to $13,923/day.

Let’s wrap up the week with sales.

For the second consecutive week, no Ultramax sales were reported.

In the Supramax segment, the 2011-built Japanese 56K DWT “K. Ruby” was sold for $15.8 million, while the 2008-built Japanese 53K DWT “Poseidon S” went for $13 million. Last week, the similar “Mercury Queen” of the same age and size was sold at the same level. The 2010-built Korean 57K DWT “Serene Amelia” was sold for $14.5 million.

In the Handysize segment, the 2017-built Chinese 37K DWT “Astro Orion” changed hands at $21 million, a notably high price for a Chinese-built vessel. In other deals, the 2011-built Chinese 35K DWT “Gulnak” was sold for $9.3 million, while the 25-year-old (2001-built) Japanese open hatch box-shaped (OHBS) 32K DWT “Aeolos” went for $6.6 million.

No coaster sales were reported this week.

We wish you a great week.