Market players report stronger demand for coaster fleet in the Mediterranean Sea amid increased number of fresh offers of steel from Turkey and fertilizers from Israel and Greece.
Note that Turkish steel exporters hurry to sell as much as they can amid rumors about upcoming introduction of import quotas and tariffs for Turkish steels in the EU. Up to 6,000 t of CLC have been fixed from Gemlik to Belgium with 7 total days shex at $19-20/t. Charterers are ready to pay $14/t for shipment of 5.6-6,000 t of steels from the Marmara Sea to Barcelona with 6 total days shex. Shipment of 3,300 t of steels from TurkMed to Almeria is estimated at $18-19/t. Some shipments to non-EU countries are reported to ISM as well. The deal for transportation of 10,000 t of steels from the Marmara Sea to Djibouti bss 2/1 has been signed at mid-$30s/t bss FILO. Shipment of 5-6,000 t of steels from the Marmara to Algeria is estimated by brokers at $16-17/t with a discharge rate of 800 sshex. As for EU steels, transportation of a similar lot of rebar from southern Italy to Algeria now costs very low $10s/t.
In the fertilizer segment, owners are seeking to get at least $30/t for shipment of 10,000 t of urea from Damietta to Newport. The deal for transportation of 7,000 t of sulphur from Kalamaki to Abu Qir is negotiated at 8-8.5/t (with 1,200x/1,000x l/d rates). The contract for transportation of 7,000 t of NPK from Nea Karvali to TBS is negotiated at mere $7/t, while 6,000 t of the cargo are offered for shipment from the same port to Constanta with 2,500x/2,000x l/d rates at $7-8/t. Large fertilizer exporters offer 8,500 t of the cargo for shipment from Ashdod to southern Spain at low-mid $10s/t bss 1/2 (with l/d rates of 7,000x/2,000x). Transportation of 5,000 t of fertilizers from Ashdod to Constanta with good l/d rates is estimated by brokers at $10-11/t, to Bayone at high $10s/t.
As for construction cargoes and minerals, up to 6,000 t of clinker have been shipped from Mersin to Salernowith 5,000c/3,500x l/d rates close to $13/t (with 5,000c/3,500x l/d rates). Charterers are ready to pay $9.5/t for shipment of 5,000 t of feldspar from Gulluk to Alexandria with 7 total days sshex l/d rates. Brokers suggest very high $30s/t for transportation of 5,000 t of RDF in bales from Piombino to Nigeria.
Market players note few grain shipments in the Mediterranean Sea. The deal for transportation of 10,000 t of barley from Iskenderun to Haifa is negotiated at $8-8.5/t (with 4,000x/2,000x l/d rates), while another lot of barley of 2-3,000 t is offered for shipment from EC Greece to Larnaca at €10/t.