Full tankers idle as crude scrapes back near $40

Brent crude has doubled in price over the past six weeks, pulling back from the brink and the unprecedented step of negative US crude prices.   With Chinese demand increasing and the new OPEC cuts, with the extension being discussed right now, it has managed to drag prices to just under $40.   Meanwhile queues …

Capesize rates gains despite mixed market outlook

Market participants were in doubt if the Capesize market would continue to enjoy higher rates over potential supply outages from Brazil. The expected lower volume from Brazil was met with high iron ore prices that firmed up rates as the Capesize 5 time charter average jumped by $141 to $3,369 on Friday. The jump was …

Oil tries again to accentuate the positives

Brent crude was unchanged at $37.84 a barrel, in the first day of trading in the contract with August as the front month. WTI crude futures for July delivery were at $35.53 a barrel, up 4 cents, or 0.1%, by 0629 GMT. OPEC+ is set to discuss a short extension of its current output cuts, …

Capesize rates drag by long tonnage list

Sluggish Pacific and Atlantic had dragged down Capesize rates and reversed much of the gains that occurred in previous week. By Thursday, the Capesize 5 time charter average went down further by $558 to $3,228, despite more buyers entry at the afternoon session in trying to lift the market. Given the volatile Capesize rates and …

Ship Shape: The End of the Road

One thing that has confusingly held true up to now was that, against all the trends of many other commodities and market, iron ore kept on rising. It has been the black sheep of the markets, standing there, teeth gritted, weathering the storm that had swept away many other markets. However, just as other markets …

Shine, shine, shine a light

We are seeing History in the making when the European Union announced its 750 billion- Euro ($824 billion) recovery package, aimed at boosting economic growth and creating a swathe of new jobs. The capital injection will have global financial markets breathing a sigh of relief, following the commitment from China at the Two Session to …

Iron ore futures surge as inventories dive

Iron ore futures advanced again on Thursday amid ongoing supply concerns from Brazil.   Brazilian miner Vale is the subject of an anti-corruption lawsuit; with the company alleged to have hindered inspections at the site of a dam that was collapsed early last year.   Furthermore, it was reported that there had been a sudden …