Capesize owners were again casting envious glances at those with smaller vessels as supramax and panamax rates continue to outperform their larger rivals.

Rising coal and grain cargoes have been aiding the panamax sector, while scrap, petcoke and nickel ore voyages are boosted the supramax space, observers say.

Capesizes:

Earnings remain south of operating costs and with oversupply the name of the game rates are not expected to take off soon.

Income on the Australia to China ore route is unmoved with BHP bagging the Zosco Hong Kong (built 2010) out of Port Hedland fir Qingdao at $7.90 per ton.

Pacific Bulk has taken on the Boa May (built 2010) out of Pointe Noire for China at $28.75 per ton. Kumba is handing over $14.80 per ton for the Zosco Hangzhou (built 2010) to run from Saldanha into Qingdao.

Winning hooked up a couple of ships out of Indonesia for China. It has paid $5,200 daily and a $300,000 bonus for the 180,300-dwt Sandra (built 2008) starting in Singapore and $5,300 daily for the 149,800-dwt Martha (built 1994) out of Shanghai.

Panamaxes:

Interest in term activity continued in the panamax space today.

WBC has hired Gleamray Maritime’s 75,500-dwt Gleamstar (built 2011) for 11 to 16 months. It will pay $8,000 daily for the first 45 days and $11,500 daily thereafter.

Pacific Bulk will hand over $10,500 daily for the 76,600-dwt Double Prosperity (built 2005) for the next four to six months.

CMN has laid down $21,000 daily for the 72,300-dwt OBO, Matilda (built 1993), out of Eregli for the Black Sea and India or China.

Vista has taken on the 76,600-dwt Ocean Tanjin (built 2007) in the Black Sea for China at $19,000 daily.

Bunge has fixed the 76,600-dwt Fair Lady (built 2005) out of Santos for Iran at $16,000 daily and a $450,000 bonus.

Flame has hired the 95,000-dwt newbuilding CMB Pomerol in Richards Bay for India at $13,000 daily and a $400,000 bonus.

The 76,300-dwt Mineral Star (built 2005) has gone to Alfred C Toepfer for a North Pacific to Singapore-Japan charter at $8,000 daily.

Supramaxes:

STX Pan Ocean has added another ship on term, taking the 57,000-dwt newbuilding Aqua Rosa for five to seven months at $11,000 daily.

SW Shipping has grabbed the 57,000-dwt Heilan Equilibrium (built 2011) out of Singapore for Indonesia and Thailand at $15,000 daily.

Crest Ocean has taken the patriotically named 56,000-dwt newbuilding Diamond Jubilee out of China for Indonesia and India at $13,250 daily.

Pac Basin has booked the 55,800-dwt Angelina the Great N (built 2011) for a Korea to the North Pacific and China at $11,000 daily.