A string of deficiencies revealed in a recent vetting report of a tanker that regularly carries Russian oil through environmentally sensitive waters and trade chokepoints underscores widespread fears about safety standards across the so-called dark fleet

Strong exports of iron ore from Brazil and bauxite from Guinea are boosting capesize spot rates this summer. US-listed dry bulk stocks, which suffered a pullback last month, are headed back upwards again

Bunker demand in Panama remains below previous years as canal transits yet to recover to seasonal averages

Rhetoric on the Panama Canal has taken a major positive turn. Authorised draught is up, reservation slots have increased and rain is adding to Gatun Lake water levels. But if you look at the actual transit statistics, this supply chain bottleneck is a still a long way from being solved

Ursa Shipbrokers’ Simon Ward says the future looks bright for smaller bulkers against a backdrop of global conflict, growth in the developing world and scarce tonnage, with efficient newbuildings too costly to justify

Eight capesizes are earning an average of $24,400 per day for the next two years

‘The ability to stay nimble to react to changes in shipping markets is more important than ever,’ says Norden chief executive

‘The capesize market is structurally tight — not only are newbuilding deliveries slowing down to multi-year lows in 2024-26 but there are no VLOCs delivering until late 2026,’ said Braemar analyst Alexandra Alatari

Following a counter-seasonally strong Q1, capesize rates and futures are in retreat. Nevertheless, shares of listed dry bulk owners are holding on to much of their 2024 gains, at least so far

Last month there were 33 capesize sales concluded compared with just nine in February 2023, according to Veson dry cargo analyst

The drop in commodity prices seems to suggest slowing demand. Data also shows China’s steel exports and coal imports have seen a notable decline since March

Greek owners identified as leading buyers with one-third of capesize purchases this year, as well as ranking first alongside Chinese owners for supramax buys