Toepfer Transport’s Multipurpose Index has broken the $20,000 barrier in the first month of 2022. The latest report marks the 19th consecutive month the Index has been climbing. 

According to the Hamburg-based broker, its Index has reached $20,875, growing 10.02 percent from the previous month. However, the latest report also comes with assessments of the index charter rates over the next six and twelve months. Toepfer Transport expects the index to grow 0.56 percent over the next six month, however, it is expected to dip 8.7 percent over the next 12-month period.

The broker stressed that the availability of ships for charter remains extremely tight and thus the overall fixture activity pretty low. Many of the few charter fixtures are for forward positions with delivery in six to twelve months and with long durations.

There is also high demand in the sale and purchase market but the high income of the vessels make owners reluctant to offer vessels for sale and sellers are not keen on selling due to the lack of suitable replacements.