Affinity Dry Cargo Weekly 18 September 2026

The dry cargo market demonstrated a mixed performance, with the Capesize sector experiencing downward pressure as the BCI 182 5TC fell to USD 52,315 per day, driven by a surplus of tonnage and subdued demand in the Pacific. In contrast, the Panamax segment weakened significantly, with the P5TC declining to USD 20,262 per day as growing vessel availability overshadowed anticipated increases in Atlantic demand. Notably, the Supramax and Handysize indices showed resilience, bolstered by tighter tonnage in the Atlantic and increased demand from regions such as Southeast Asia and Northern America. Meanwhile, China's iron ore imports rose 5.5 per cent year-on-year, sustaining strong seaborne supply despite weakening steel production, raising questions about the sustainability of current import levels amid declining domestic steel consumption and potential inventory pressures.