The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index, which monitors rates for vessels moving dry bulk commodities, hit a two-week high on Monday on expectations of higher shipping costs after China pledged to charge additional ports fees for U.S. ships.
The main index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 208 points, or 10.7%, to 2,144 points, its highest since September 29.
China will slap port fees on U.S.-owned, operated, built, or flagged vessels on Tuesday as a countermeasure to U.S. port fees on China-linked ships starting the same day, China’s transport ministry said on Friday.
“The latest geopolitical developments are creating the potential for further disruption. Container freight rates… are seeing some near-term upside as operators raise rates in anticipation of a disruption,” analysts at Jefferies said in a note.
The capesize index rose 593 points, or 21.2% to 3,392 points, touching its highest since September 29.
Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased by $4,916 to $28,132.
Iron ore futures gained as robust steel exports in top consumer China, along with lower ore shipments, outweighed concerns over renewed Sino-U.S. trade tensions.
The panamax index rose 42 points to 1,806 points.
Average daily earnings for panamax vessels, which usually carry 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain, rose by $384 to $16,257.
Among smaller vessels, the supramax index fell 2 points to 1,400 points.
Source: Reuters
