Panamax Rates Hold Steady

Freight rates in the Atlantic Panamax sector held steady on Wednesday amid signs that recent rises may be stalling, brokers said. "The Atlantic is holding up well, but the question is not whether the Panamax market will rally further, but when the Atlantic will come off," one said. Until then, Atlantic and Pacific Panamax rates were expected to remain steady. Signs that the market was reaching its pinnacle were heralded by the Baltic Panamax Index (BPI) on Monday, when rises in both the Atlantic and Pacific were noticeably smaller. The trend persisted on Tuesday, and by Wednesday the BPI rose just two points to 1,436. Freight rates remained high enough, however, to encourage charterers to continue with timecharter deals. A grain house has taken the 1990 built 69,637 dwt Torm Marina for an east coast of South America round voyage. Redelivery is scheduled for the Skaw-Passero range and the rate of the charter is said to be a steady $11,000 daily. Cargill is reported to have chartered the 1998 built 71,671 dwt Giant Pescadores for early-July Aden delivery and two to three laden legs at a rate of $10,100 daily. The 1986 built 70,653 dwt Alexandraki has been chartered for a trip to Brazil and Iran, with redelivery agreed as passing Muscat outwards at a rate of $11,100 daily. - (Reuters)