Market forecasts for Ultramax and Handysize vessels, based on weekly data ending January 16, 2026, reveal regional shifts, subtle tightening, and stabilisation across global dry bulk trades
The dry bulk market extended its losses during the week ending 16 January 2026, with overall declines despite divergent performance across vessel segments and selective rate resilience
As 2026 begins, Ultramax and Handysize markets stabilise amid uneven fundamentals, with these projections based on market data and fixtures from the week ending 9 January 2026
Dry bulk freight markets started the year under sustained pressure, with earnings sliding across all vessel classes, based on data from the week that closed on January 9, 2026, highlighting fragile sentiment and muted demand
Holiday silence did not mean market calm. Between 29 December 2025 and 3 January 2026, global shipping freight rates spoke clearly: pricing discipline returned, volumes hesitated, and carriers tested how far leverage still stretches
Drawing on market activity from the week ending 19 December 2025, this report examines the seasonal slowdown across Ultramax, Supramax and Handysize segments as year-end calm replaces late-Q4 momentum
The dry bulk market softened across all segments during the week that closed on 12 December 2025, with Capesize vessels leading the decline and momentum easing basin-wide
As 2025 draws to a close, dry bulk markets show seasonal softening and shifting balances, based on activity from the week that closed on 12 December 2025, highlighting growing charterer leverage across basins
Global container carriers face unprecedented profit collapse in Q3 2025, with earnings plummeting 55–89% despite record cargo volumes. The container shipping crisis reveals fundamental market dysfunction driven by overcapacity, tariff disruption, and structural demand weakness extending through 2026
Capesizes lead the dry bulk market into higher waters in the week ending December 5, 2025, with strong gains and shifting dynamics across all vessel segments