Charter rates for the multipurpose vessels fleet have continued to edge down with the shipping consultancy Drewry expecting the slow, gradual drop to continue in July. 

During the month of June, Drewry Multipurpose Time Charter Index slipped by 0.6 percent from the May figures, reaching $11,050 per day, as spot rates in the competing sectors softened. Going forward, Drewry expect the weakening trend to continue in July, albeit very slowly, with rates dropping a further 1.4 percent, to $10,900 per day.

Uncertainty remains the key driver for the outlook for the Multipurpose and Heavylift fleet, Drewry notes in its latest monthly review. Chinese exports are still hampered by Covid restrictions, European demand is weak due to increasing economic concerns and inflation in the US coupled with the continue supply chain issues at the major ports mean that consumer confidence is receding fast.

On the MPV charter market, the short-sea sector is becalmed with rates over much of June steady in the face of rising fuel costs and continued conflict in Ukraine (and what that means in terms of vessel supply and certain trade lanes). Add to this the inevitable summer slow down that this smaller sector faces (as steel mills close for the holidays and harvests are not quite ready) and there is some space in the sector in the short term.

For the larger, more heavylift capable sector rates have weakened in line with the weakness in the container sector. That said, Drewry don’t expect this softening to quicken, with only a very gradual decline expected over the summer as the capacity issues start to unwind slowly on some routes. Rates are expected to remain well ahead of 2021 for some time to come.