Articles By Eoin Hughes

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean rose in the week to Wednesday February 19, as increased cargo demand in the Americas supported rates.

Fastmarkets launched a FM-FRT-0032 freight Pacific Northwest-Japan price on Monday February 17.

Fastmarkets launched a FM-FRT-0031 freight US Gulf-Japan price on Monday February 17.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean eased in the week to Wednesday February 12, amid increasing vessels and decreasing demand.

The EU imported 81,676 tonnes of soybeans in the week ended Sunday February 9, pushing the total for the current marketing year to 8.36 million tonnes, up by 10% year on year, according to preliminary data from the European Commission.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lowered its wheat and corn production estimates for the 2024/25 marketing year in its February agricultural market information system (AMIS) report.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean rose in the week to Wednesday February 5, as gains in demand for ships from China and in Brazil helped support the market after the Lunar New Year.

Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Monday January 20 that they will end attacks on non-Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, but, according to experts, it is unclear whether or how quickly rerouted vessels will return to the region.

The International Grains Council (IGC) has lowered its world grain production forecast by 7 million tonnes to 2.305 billion tonnes for the 2024/25 marketing year, according to the council’s latest monthly report.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean eased again in the week to Wednesday January 15, as an increase in available tonnage weighed on rates.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean rose over the Christmas period into Wednesday January 8.

The EU imported 117,831 tonnes of soybeans in the week ended Sunday January 5, pushing the marketing-year total to 6.96 million tonnes, up by 12% year on year, based on preliminary data from the European Commission.

With the freight market looking ahead to 2025, the issues posed by a Trump presidency, a potential slowing of global trade and new climate policies have come into focus.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean fell in the week to Wednesday December 18, with slow exports continuing to weigh on rates.

Freight rates in the North and South Atlantic have dropped consistently since mid-October and are down by almost 25% year on year. Several factors explain the dramatically weaker rates, including less cargo in the Atlantic, a lack of logistical issues and slower demand from China, Fastmarkets understands.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean recovered slightly in the week to Wednesday December 11.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean remained at recent lows in the week to Wednesday December 4, with a lack of export cargoes and high tonnages continuing to hold rates down, Fastmarkets has heard.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean fell to new lows in the week to Wednesday November 27, with slow exports still not absorbing tonnage and weighing on rates.

Dry conditions in most of Europe have benefitted winter rapeseed and cereal sowing for most of Europe, according to the latest EU Monitoring Agricultural Resources (MARS) report.