Coal freight rates approaching 2009 highs

摘要

Seaborne freight rates this week rose close to 2009 highs as coal shortages in China and India come during the busiest part of the grain export season. The panamax rate off the US East Coast to Rotterdam rose $4.00/metric tonne (mt) on the week to $23.40/mt, and the capesize rate for the same route rose by $5.70/mt from a week ago to $28.15/mt. From the Gulf Coast to Europe, panamax rates rose by $5.20/mt from last week to $30.20/mt. The main timecharter index for capesize vessels was $81,795/day today, up from $64,416/day last week, still below its 2009 high of $89,863/day on June 19.