MID-SHIP Alumina/Bauxite – August 5, 2026

August 5, 2026

Market Overview: 

The dry bulk market remained mixed today, with smaller vessel classes continuing to face the greatest headwinds. Handysize sentiment was soft across both the Atlantic and Pacific, as ample prompt tonnage and limited fresh cargoes weighed on activity, pushing the 7TC average down to $15,763/day. Supramax conditions were similarly subdued, with the 11TC easing marginally to $20,326/day amid a lack of fresh enquiry. That said, owners in Asia continued to show discipline, supported by typhoon-related disruptions and a modest pickup in period interest, helping to prevent a more meaningful correction.

Further up the size spectrum, Panamax continued to outperform, with the 5TC index rising to $20,473/day on the back of healthy fixture activity and tight prompt tonnage in the North Atlantic. While increasing ballast arrivals from the Far East could gradually ease vessel availability in the weeks ahead, current sentiment remains constructive. Capesize, meanwhile, paused after its recent rally, with the 5TC slipping to $45,816/day as both the Atlantic and Pacific saw a modest pullback. Despite the softer close, underlying fundamentals remain generally supportive, with owners continuing to maintain firm ideas, particularly for North Atlantic fronthaul business.

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