Articles By Eoin Hughes

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.

The International Grains Council (IGC) has lowered its world grain production forecast for the 2024/25 marketing year by 4 million tonnes to 2.31 billion tonnes, according to the council’s latest monthly report.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean fell to new lows in the week to Wednesday November 20, with exports still not sufficient to absorb tonnage, weighing on rates.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic Ocean hit a 15-month low in the week to Wednesday November 13, with slow exports and growing tonnage weighing on rates.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic fell further in the week to Wednesday November 6, as high tonnage availability and slow exports still weighed on rates.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic fell further to new annual lows in the week to Wednesday October 30, as high tonnage availability and weak demand continued to hit the Atlantic freight market, sources told Fastmarkets.

Forecasts for corn, sunflower and soybean yields in the EU have all been cut after a rainy start to autumn, according to the latest EU Monitoring Agricultural Resources (MARS) report.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic fell again to reach their lowest levels in a year in the week to Wednesday October 23, with weaker grain exports continuing to weigh on rates.

Dry bulk freight rates for Panamax vessels in the Atlantic decreased again in the week to Wednesday October 16 with weak grain exports compared to high tonnage and gloomy sentiment weighing on rates.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index rose by 3 points from its revised August figures to 124.4 points in September, due to price increases across all commodities in the index, the FAO said on Friday October 4.