Decks and Deals Weekly #37
The week of March 22–28, 2026 reshaped global shipping as Hormuz turned into a toll-controlled chokepoint, tanker markets split sharply, and geopolitical shocks from Ukraine to Yemen redrew the map of risk
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Ultramax & Handysize global market review: fragmented equilibrium across regional dry bulk trade
Global dry bulk markets remain fragmented and directionless, as regional imbalances dominate trading patterns during the week ending 20 March 2026, with owners and charterers navigating short-term volatility and localized equilibrium shifts
Shifting currents: Ultramax and Handysize markets grapple with volatility across Atlantic & Pacific trades
Dry bulk markets for Ultramax and Handysize vessels showed mixed signals during the week ending 13 March 2026, as bunker volatility, geopolitical tensions, and rising tonnage supply shaped trading patterns across Atlantic and Pacific routes
Capes rally keeps dry bulk market afloat as BDI edges higher
The dry bulk market moved largely sideways during the week that ended on March 13, 2026, as strong Capesize gains offset declines across smaller vessel segments, allowing the Baltic Dry Index to post a modest increase
Hormuz shock and the shipping gamble
The duration of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz will determine whether shipping markets see a temporary freight-rate boom or face the early signal of a broader global economic slowdown
Dry bulk weathers the storm: Atlantic, China and Australia keep the market on course
Despite escalating geopolitical tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the dry bulk market showed resilience during the week ending March 6, 2026, with smaller bulkers supporting freight levels while Capesize earnings declined
Hormuz on hold: Freight markets reprice risk as geopolitics tightens the Strait
Freight markets turned sharply cautious in the week that closed on 27 February 2026, as escalating tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz forced a reassessment of risk, routing and pricing across global dry bulk trades
Middle East conflict disrupts global shipping
Developments in the Middle East test global maritime trade routes, as rising geopolitical tension increases costs, alters shipping patterns, and places critical energy corridors under renewed pressure without any formal blockad
Entering the Year of the Fiery Horse: A muted start for dry bulk markets
The dry bulk market recorded mixed performance during the week that ended on February 20, 2026, as Chinese New Year celebrations muted activity and led to moderate rate fluctuations across vessel segments
Ultramax & Handysize market dispatch: Navigating global currents
Global Ultramax and Handysize markets navigated mixed momentum during the week ending February 20, 2026, as regional corrections, seasonal slowdowns, and shifting tonnage balances shaped freight rate direction across key Atlantic and Pacific basins