Big Cape Docking (Image Source: Vale)

These two sales indicate substantial improvement for modern cape pricing over the last few months based on a market comparison analysis. About a month ago, Belgium-based Bocimar (Compagnie Maritime Belge) sold their 2012-built by Hanjin Subic in the Philippines MV „BULK CANADA” at $41.5 million to Norway’s Berge Bulk; given the perceived ‘weak’ name of the shipbuilder in the marketplace, some discount is attributable to such fact. Shortly before that, in late July, Jinhai Heavy Industries-built / controlled 179,000-dwt Hull No J0021 with 2013 expected delivery was sold at a reported price of $38 million to reportedly Greek interests (possibly, Marmaras Navigation.) This vessel had been ordered in 2010, based on information from market reports at the time, on behalf of Fredriksen’s Golden Ocean concern with an expected April 2012 delivery, but accurate details of full-fledged newbuilding contract details, such as refund guarantees, down payment, etc are thin at least. In any event, both these older sales deserve a downward adjustment of a couple of millions due to their shipbuilding pedigree and the potential lack of any extra TLC provided during their construction; and, both of the current sales came from high quality yards and seem to be of good specification, at least of specification not seeing in the market that often from sale candidates.

Based on these sales, there has been an asset appreciation in play to the tune of probably more than 25% over the last two months (when adjusting for age, spec, quality of parties involved, reputation of shipbuilders, etc)  No bad for two months’ time, especially after the misery of the markets in 1H2013; and, again, freight improved by ten times as much in almost the same interval.  Based on our discussions with market players, we understand that several modern capesize owners were approached about the possibility of selling vessels, providing another sign that the sentiment, at least temporarily, has improved and underlying the ever stated argument that there are no good vessels for sale.

It will be interesting seeing how the market will develop, and whether the present developments in the cape S&P market are indeed signs of a cyclical recovery or just another ‘false positive’ temporary peak.  At least for the immediate future, the market is widely expected to take a breather with Golden Week underway in China – the mother of the cape market; also, the paper market (FFAs) have not softened in the last two weeks despite the improvement of the spot market (CAL 14, CAL 15 and CAL 16 trade at about $17,000 pd,) well below the spot market, although the paper markets in shipping often trade in backwardation.  And the drop over the last two weeks for HRC steel has dropped by $20/ton squeezing the margins for the steel mills.

© 2013 Basil M Karatzas & Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

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