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CHARTERING

Bulk carrier silhouetted against a luminous horizon beneath dark storm clouds, reflecting uncertainty across global dry bulk freight markets

Dry bulk: spot strength, forward fears

The Ultramax and Handysize weekly market review & forward outlook for the week ending 6 November 2026 reveals widening regional divides, resilient Pacific demand and mounting pressure on forward earnings

Aerial view of a geared bulk carrier sailing through deep blue waters beneath a partly cloudy sky

A tale of two markets: when geography dictates freight

The weekly market review and forward outlook for the week ending 30 October 2026 reveals a tale of two markets, as regional imbalances drive Ultramax and Handysize freight rates in sharply different directions

Aerial view of a bulk carrier crossing a sharp boundary between calm turquoise waters and dark, turbulent seas, symbolising widening regional disparities in dry bulk freight markets

Dry bulk’s widening divide

Pacific freight rates hold firm while Atlantic markets lose momentum. The Weekly Market Report & Forward Outlook examines this widening Ultramax–Handysize divide for the week ending 23 October 2026

Red-hulled dry bulk carrier sailing through choppy blue waters, with white spray breaking against its bow under a partly cloudy sky

Dry bulk: strong rates, fragile momentum

Handysize and Ultramax markets showed contrasting dynamics during the week ending 16 October 2026, as tight vessel supply supported earnings while uneven cargo demand and geopolitical risks limited broader gains

Aerial illustration of two bulk carriers navigating a dark blue ocean made of folded fabric, their white wakes cutting through textured waves, symbolising divergent fortunes in Ultramax and Handysize freight markets

Ultramax & Handysize: same seas, different fortunes

Ultramax and Handysize freight markets remained firm during the week ending 9 October 2026, but regional imbalances, vessel positioning and rising operating risks increasingly determined where owners could secure stronger returns

A massive, rusted steel sphere sinks into black gravel while three smaller spheres remain upright beneath an overcast grey sky, symbolising diverging dry bulk freight markets

Capes take a hit, but smaller bulkers refuse to follow

Capesize rates plunged, dragging the Baltic Dry Index lower, while smaller vessels resisted the downturn. The week ending 9 October 2026 exposed a dry bulk market moving at sharply different speeds

A nearly empty matchbox holds one remaining match, its head transformed into a miniature dry bulk carrier

Dry bulk’s October test: prompt tonnage takes control

Ultramax and Handysize markets enter October fragmented, as the week ending 2 October 2026 reveals prompt tonnage, positioning and timing increasingly determining where owners can defend rates and retain leverage