Baltic Exchange Dry Index 3324 UP 227
BCI Baltic Exchange Capesize Index 5549 UP 515
BPI Baltic Exchange Panamax Index 3141 UP 121
BSI Baltic Exchange Supramax Index 1953 UP 61
BHSI Baltic Exchange Handysize Index 822 UP 12
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15/7 2009 18:07 fcras 0
15276 Hanjin pays up
Hanjin fixed an Orient Line panamax for a front haul at $38,500 per day which led the rates charge in the sector. Generally the Atlantic was pretty firm with rates in the Pacific not as good but still improving.
Another Japanese supramax went to Norden for only $500 a day shy of this mark for a trip from the US Gulf to the Far East with plenty of other tonnage enjoying good rates too.
Capesizes
The index may be booming but in truth $50,000 a day from Rio Tinto for a China-Australia roundtrip with the 169,200-dwt Paschalis D (built 2002) is not great.
Still, it at least shows that the detention of four of the miner’s employees by Chinese authorities over alleged spying during iron ore price negotiations is not hampering business between the two.
Panamaxes
The 76,400d-wt Maritime Christine (built 2004) has gone to Hanjin for a trip from the Med to the US and on to the Far East at $38,500 per day.
An Atlantic itinerary cost Cargill $34,000 daily with the 75,700-dwt Red Iris (built 2003).
A transatlantic roundtrip with the 74,600-dwt Angelic Glory (built 2002) set an unidentified charterer back $30,000.
Roundtrips from the Far East to Australia were also getting good numbers. The 76,600-dwt Avoca (built 2004) fetched $19,250 and the 69,900-dwt Fen Jin Hai (built 1995) just $250 a day less.
And d’Amico has the 71,800-dwt Samjohn Light (built 1994) for an Asian itinerary at $18,750.
Orion Bulkers of Germany’s 76,800-dwt Bison (built 2005) attracted $26,800-dwt Bison (built 2005) for a spin from the Persian Gulf to South America and the Far East.
Dreyfus dipped into the period market by taking the 74,400d-wt Geosand (built 2005) for four to six months at $20,000 and the 73,000-dwt Celerina (built 1999) for 11 to 13 months at $18,500.
Supramaxes
Western Bulk Carriers was just as active in the period market here taking a brace of short-term charters. It spent $20,000 on the 45,900-dwt Stavros P (built 1994) for four to six months and $18,150 for three to five months with the 52,000-dwt Rainbow (built 2004).
Bunge also sealed a short term deal spending $17,600 a day for three to five months on the 45,700-dwt Chrysoula S (built 1996).
The voyage market was awash with good deals as Norden put down $38,000 a day for the 55,800-dwt Katrine Star (built 2005) to head to the Far East from the US Gulf.
MUR took the 51,100-dwt Kang Fu (built 2002) from the Red Sea to the Black Sea and on to the Far East via the Gulf of Aden.
An India-Far East spin set SK Shipping back $24,000 daily with the 55,200-dwt Navios Hios (built 2002).
By Eoin O'Cinneide in London
Published: 13:54 GMT, 15 jul 2009 | last updated: 13:54 GMT, 15 jul 2009
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15/7 2009 20:18 fcras 015285 Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Newcastle port's Coal Infrastructure Group, which links six exporters including BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), is about to start a process to gauge interest in further expanding capacity at what is already the world's biggest coal port, a spokesman for the group, Chris Ford, said Tuesday.
Advertisements will appear in newspapers Wednesday seeking expressions of interest in take or pay contracts from exporters that aren't members of NCIG for a A$1 billion Stage 2 expansion that would double capacity at the port's third terminal, he said.
NCIG is 60% into a Stage 1 development of the third terminal that will add 30 million metric tons to capacity in 2010, he said.
NCIG's board hasn't formally decided yet to proceed with Stage 2 but a feasibility study on it has been completed and potential sources of finance are being investigated as part of an ongoing process, he said.
NCIG was formed in 2005 and its members are all significant producers of coal in the Hunter Valley, the port's hinterland. As well as BHP, other members are Centennial Coal Co. Donaldson Coal, Peabody Energy, Felix Resources Ltd. and Whitehaven Coal Ltd.
NCIG's coal terminal was approved by the New South Wales state government in 2007.
Expansion underway at two other terminals at Newcastle Port operated by Port Waratah Coal Services will increase capacity there to 117 million tons. A further opportunity exists for Port Waratah to build a fourth terminal in the port.
The current export capacity of the Hunter Valley coal chain is around 95 million tons a year to service export demand for mostly thermal coal from Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia.
Australia is the biggest exporter of seaborne coal.
But the port has been dogged by limited capacity since mid 2003 resulting in long queues of vessels. Newcastle Port Corp. said Tuesday that 42 vessels were hove to waiting to load on Monday, with the volume of coal shipped in the seven days ended July 13 jumping 10% on week to 2.05 million tons.
New South Wales Ports Minister Joe Tripodi said NCIG's call for expressions of interest is an important step towards expanding capacity at the port.
"It will help NCIG to make a decision on Stage 2 based on demand requests from Hunter Valley coal producers and potential new players in the industry," he said in a statement.
Under a plan submitted to the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, NCIG is required to offer 12 million tons a year of capacity to producers and new entrants who aren't members, he said.
Non-NCIG members thus will have an opportunity to request capacity as will new producers, such as China's Shen Hua, he said.
Source: Dow Jones Commodities
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56267&Itemid=79
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Newcastle Coal Port:
http://www.newportcorp.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=111612
