Tag Archives: ultramax

Dry Bulk Vessel Prices Lagging the Freight Market

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The turnaround of the dry bulk freight market in the last eighteen months has been impressive and a welcome reminder that the shipping industry is an extremely volatile business. The overall Baltic Dry Index (BDI) has quintupled from March 2016 till now, while more spectacularly, the Baltic Capesize Index (BCI_2014) has decupled in the same period.

Still, in absolute terms, daily freight rates are just moving above operating break-even levels, and for vessels with recent or high mortgages, present earnings do not suffice to fully cover the financing cost component of the ownership. Such was the depth (and desperation) of the market that multifold increases in freight rates and barely managing to keep our heads above water!

The improvement of the freight market can be attributed to several factors such as delays in newbuilding deliveries in the short term (and precipitous drop in additional newbuilding ordering in the longer term), an accelerated scrapping pace for older and less-than-older bulkers (bringing the tonnage supply and demand balance to a relatively favorable equilibrium), a Chinese economy that keeps impressing with its strong demand for raw materials, miners that keep expanding supply (legacy projects, mostly), new trading routes and patterns expanding ton-mile, and yes, anti-globalization political rhetoric that seems to favor shipping by inserting inefficiencies in the world trade.

None of factors above single-handedly has driven the market higher, but all have contributed to a better shipping. As a word of caution, almost all of the above factors are reversible or cancellable on short order, and any thought of popping campaign bottles is premature. And still, there are several additional risk factors that still lurking in the background.

In past times, such a strong improvement in freight rates would had set dry bulk prices on fire. Vessels are valued on earnings, and quite often, on expected earnings (which explains, inter alia, how the shipping market finds itself flooded with newbuildings so often); a freight market that has been galloping ahead in the last few months would had triggered major asset appreciation and incited even loftier hopes for higher prices.

Given that capesize tonnage is the most volatile among the dry bulk sectors, we chose in the following chart to show the Baltic Capesize Index (BCI_2014) and the price of a 5yr-old capesize vessel since January 2015 (data by Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co. (KMA), and the Baltic Exchange to which KMA maintains membership). Back in January 2015, capesize prices were overvalued comparatively to the freight market and the index, as expectations and hopes were strong for shipowners to accept lower bids. A further dip where BCI dropped from 500 points to 250 points by early 2016, and capesize asset prices were dropping fast, from almost $38 mil to $25 mil. Since March 2016, the BCI_2014 index has decupled to above 3,000 points at present, but capesize asset prices have only moved up to currently $34 mil for a 5yr old capesize vessel. Quite a disconnect, a 35% increase in asset prices when the freight market is up by a multiple of ten (1,100%).

Capesize freight rates (LHS) vs capesize vessel prices (RHS) since January 2015: under-appreciating. Source: Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

Taking a broader look for other asset classes (panamax dry bulk, ultramax/supramax, and handysize tonnage) in the following graph, a similar trend of improving prices can be seen among all asset classes, in the range of 30-50%. There have been cases when dry bulk vessels were bought at the dark depths of the market in spring 2016 and a year later were flipped by as much as 130% actual profit, but those were few selected transactions, for older tonnage (and different economics and risk), and probably a few of those transactions were opportunistic with an element of luck. The corollaries to the story is that money can still be made in shipping for asset play (“buy low, sell high”) if timing is right, and that when shipowners were pounding the table to raise money to buy cheap ships were correct (but again, many of those owners were pounding the table to buy cheap ships at the peak of the market in 2013/2014). However, the real lesson is that there is a disconnect at present between freight rates today (and also freight rate expectations) and the level of asset prices in the dry bulk market.

Dry bulk vessel asset prices: hot, but not hot enough. Credit: Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

Lack of finance is, in our opinion, the real culprit for asset prices not being on fire at present (and this is not necessarily a terrible thing, in our opinion.) Shipping banks have been very tight with new business, capital markets and institutional investors are not perceiving shipping to be an industry of great prospects at the moment, and export credit from newbuilding nations is low on the list. Besides seed equity and selectively follow-ons in the capital markets and anecdotal evidence of ship mortgages from banks, financial leverage in shipping can be obtained from alternative capital funds, at levels that can easily exceed 10%; not necessarily too expensive, but barely sustainable unless one expects a great freight market looking forward.

Opportunistically dry bulk is still a great market to enter although the “easy money” has already been made in the early stage of the market bouncing from the bottom. We do not espouse a blind expansion strategy in the sector but there is an arbitrage opportunity for money to be made, especially where investments can be structured to minimize the (many) risks that are still lurking in the background. There are still cargoes to be moved worldwide, and contracts of affreightment (COAs) are still available, and strategic partnerships can be set, instead of someone jumping speculatively in the market, even today, when there is the disconnect of freight and asset prices.

A bulker in the Big Apple… probably looking for money? Image credit: Karatzas Images

© 2013 – present Basil M Karatzas & Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.  All Rights Reserved.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:  Access to this blog signifies the reader’s irrevocable acceptance of this disclaimer. No part of this blog can be reproduced by any means and under any circumstances, whatsoever, in whole or in part, without proper attribution or the consent of the copyright and trademark holders of this website.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information herewithin has been received from sources believed to be reliable and such information is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, no warranties or assurances whatsoever are made in reference to accuracy or completeness of said information, and no liability whatsoever will be accepted for taking or failing to take any action upon any information contained in any part of this website.  Thank you for the consideration.

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S&P, Newbuilding and Demolition Update (January 18th, 2014) – Dry Bulk Focus

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By the end of the week, the notable decline of the BDI and dry bulk freight rates since late last year came to a stop with a marginal improvement on Thursday and Friday, mostly on relatively stronger recovery in the cape market; still, it was a down week for the index, with about 0.75% decline. Crude tankers have been the star of the week, with freight rates improving impressively on certain routes; some improvement is due to seasonality – still, winter season in the northern hemisphere, due to bad weather affecting vessel routing – heavy delays due to fogging in the Bosporus affecting Suezmax tonnage trading Black Sea, and due to lower tonnage availability in the AG – owners have been ballasting en masse VLCCs from AG to WAF for better prospects (probably an interesting point for further analysis, ballasting vessels around the Cape and incurring millions of dollars in bunker expenses in the hope of better prospects in another geography; ‘herd mentality’ possibly, but for now, AG tonnage faithful tonnage got the best of it, and their prospects look good for February, too.) The best markets have been Caribs – USG and cross-Med trading for aframaxes, where in the latter market have benefited by association due to Bosporus delays but mostly have benefited from Libya’s crude exports coming to the market again (as a reminder, just last week, rebel forces had threatened to open fire at tankers approaching terminals for loading, but the economics got the better of the threats, since oil exports translate to hard currency in a desperate country.) One of the highest fixtures has been ExxonMobil’s fixture of Thenamaris’ MT „SEAOATH” at 260 WS, well in excess of $100,000 TCE for cross-Med voyage.

Activity in the sale & purchase market continues robustly, as hopes for a market recovery seem to be getting stronger hold. Late last week, it was reported athat Marmaras Navigation of Greece has acquired Hull No J0021 for 176,000 dwt capesize vessel with 2014 delivery at Jinhai Heavy Industries at approximately $47 million, and also Greek independent owner Transmed has acquired Qingdao Beihai BC180-26 and BC180-30 hulls (MV „CENTRANS RYTHM” and MV „CENTRANS ETERNAL”) for 180,000 dwt capesize vessels with 2014 delivery at about $48 million, each. These transactions stand out for a couple of reasons: despite the overall pessimism in the capesize market, still, these are acquisitions by ‘real’ independent, operating shipowners who put a lot of their own equity at risk (as opposed to ‘OPM’ investments) which indicates real conviction in the market; further to it, the pricing seems extremely competitive as compared to recent ‘OPM’, highly advertised acquisitions of comparable tonnage, and also compared to standard shipbroker tables with ‘Cape Resales’ markedly in the $50+ million territory.

Pretty woman MV GRAND DIVA!

Pretty lady named MV GRAND DIVA! (image source: http://www.shipspotting.com)

The Kamsarmax vessel MV „MINERAL PEARL” (81,500 DWT, 2013, Guangzhou Longxue) has achieved $27 million, while almost comparable vessel MV „PRETTY MASTER” (82,000 DWT, 2013, Zhejiang Judger S.B.) was sold at the relatively weak $24 million. Possibly the confused identity name of the vessel may explain the price differential? Panamax bulker MV „TRAVE” (75,300 DWT, 2001, Hyundai Samho) was sold to Kassian Maritime in Greece at the rather strong $16.1 million, while MV „GRAND DIVA” (75,600 DWT, 2007, Imabari SB) was sold at $21.5 million to Italian buyers (Augustea.) Older panamax MV „GLOBAL TRIUMPH” (73,000 DWT, 1996, CSBC Kaohsiung) sold to a scrap related $8 million to Chinese buyers (Shandong Shagang.)

MV DIETRICH OLDENDORFF (image source: Oldendorff Carriers)

MV DIETRICH OLDENDORFF (image source: Oldendorff Carriers)

Ultramax vessels have been in high demand recently, and Greek buyers have acquired four SDARI 64 vessels under construction at Jinling Shipyard (Hull Nos: JLZ9120408-11) ordered by Asia Pacific Enterprises; all vessels are due to deliver in 2014 and price consideration has been at about $30.5 million per vessel. We understand also the Oldendorff Carriers has sold a Crown 63 deign ultramax vessel MV „DIETRICH OLDENDORFF” (63,500 DWT, 2013, C4x35T, Dayang S.B.) to Greek buyers at $31 million, with a market-indexed charter back to the sellers.

Supramax tonnage has also been active, with the MV „FAR EASTERN VENUS” (53,500 DWT, 2006, C4x30T, Imabari S.B.) fetching $21 million, while also Japanese built MV „IKAN SERONG” (56,000 DWT, 2006, C4x35T, Mitsui Ichihara) achieved excess $ 22 million.  Chinese built and with survey due shortly MV „ORIENT RISE” (56,500 DWT, 2010, C4x30T, Qinghan Shipyard) achieved a rather weak $21.5 million from German buyers. Handymax vessels have also been active with sistership vessels MV „PACIFIC CHAMP” and MV „PACIFIC ROYAL” (43,000 DWT, 1996, C4x25T, H.H.I.) achieving $9 million each, while slightly older but comparable Japanese-built vessel MV „AZURE SKY” (45,750 DWT, 1995, C4x30T, Imabari S.B.) achieved a shade below $9 million. Slightly newer and larger, still Japanese built MV „EILHARD SCHULTE” (49,500 DWT, 1999, C4x25T, IHI) achieved $12.75 million from Greek buyers, while slightly older and smaller Japanese-built MV „TINA A” (42,500 DWT, 1999, C4x30T, I.H.I) achieved $10.5 million by Danish buyers.

In the pure handysize market, MV „DANIELA BOLTEN” (23,750, 2007, C4x30T, Shin Kochi H.I.) was sold at just below $15 million, while MV „CS SOLARIS” (28,500 DWT, 2001, C4x30T, Imabari S.B.) was sold at a shade less $13 million. Large handy MV „CARL OLDENDORFF” (31,500 DWT, 2002, C4x30, Saiki) was sold to undisclosed interests at $14.1 million.

Definitely lots of activity to report, and this is only in the dry bulk market. We understand that most of these sales, primarily of ‘older’ tonnage, are individual sales (as compared to en bloc ‘corporate’ sales reported in our previous report) by independent owners, signifying still strong activity in the market and expectations for a recovery. And, as not to be any doubts about the strong market recovery expected – sometime, somehow – about eighty-five (85) were ordered so far in 2014, about four (4) vessels per diem, which, surprisingly, is well below 2013 activity when on average, seven (7) vessels were getting ordered each and every single day of the year, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays included.

Long live the market recovery!

© 2013-2014 Basil M Karatzas & Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.  All Rights Reserved.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:  Access to this blog signifies the reader’s irrevocable acceptance of this disclaimer. No part of this blog can be reproduced by any means and under any circumstances, whatsoever, in whole or in part, without proper attribution or the consent of the copyright and trademark holders of this website. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information herewithin has been received from sources believed to be reliable and such information is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, no warranties or assurances whatsoever are made in reference to accuracy or completeness of said information, and no liability whatsoever will be accepted for taking or failing to take any action upon any information contained in any part of this website.  Thank you for the consideration.