Iron ore spot freight rates from Western Australia, to Qingdao, China have jumped 163% to USD 21.82 per tonne on 28 September 2021 compared with the same time last year. For a very large ore carrying Capesize ship transporting 200,000 tonnes of iron ore, this represents an increase in freight revenue from USD 1.66 million, one year ago, to USD 4.36 million on 28 September 2021.

Similarly, iron ore spot freight rates from Tubarão in Brazil to Qingdao in China are up 112% compared with 28 September last year and up 174% since the start of this year. Currently at USD 43.2 per tonne, the highest level since December 2009. Spot freight rates for the Brazil to China iron ore trade, reached an all-time-high at USD 108.75 per tonne in June 2008, during the dry bulk shipping super cycle.

The increasing spot rates push up earnings on both routes. Time-Charter-Equivalent earnings on the Australia to China trade have risen to USD 66,567 per day for a 2010-built Capesize ship on 24 September, while earnings on the Brazil to China trade are slightly lower, although still high at USD 51,105 per day. Across the five major Capesize time-charter routes, earnings on 27 September stood at USD 63,030 per day.

High spot rates are supported by more open market fixtures

Throughout September the number of spot fixtures on the Australia and Brazil trades to China has been high. In the week to 24 September, eight fixtures from Australia and six from Brazil were reported, according to Commodore Research. The week before was even stronger for both trades with 17 fixtures reported from Australia and 10 from Brazil. In September 2020 the weekly average was 10.5 fixtures from Australia to China and 4.3 from Brazil to China.

Overall, however, Chinese iron ore imports have fallen so far this year when compared to the highs of 2021, according to the Chinese customs authorities, down by 1.6% after the first eight months of the year when imports stood at 747.4m tonnes. Imports from Australia are down 3.3% at 460.1 m tonnes, while those from Brazil have grown to 147.3 million tonnes, representing a 6.2% increase.

“The increasing number of spot fixtures from the world’s largest iron ore exporters are clearly providing a boost to the dry bulk sector, in particular to the Capesize market, as iron ore exports from Brazil and Australia represent the lion’s share of total Capesize demand,” says Peter Sand, BIMCO’s Chief Shipping Analyst.

” Furthermore, the congestion around China, and longer waiting times, mean that the average duration of the total voyage is increasing, soaking up capacity and adding further upward pressure to freight rates. As we approach what is seasonally the strongest time of year for dry bulk, it looks like owners and operators will continue to enjoy high spot freight rates until at least the end of the year,” Sand says.