Handysize and Ultramax markets remain fragmented across key basins, with charterers retaining leverage and owners testing freight floors, according to market data from the week that ended on 7 August 2026
The week ending 31 July 2026 confirmed that Handysize and Ultramax markets are entering August under freight pressure, with geopolitical risks, seasonal cargo patterns and vessel positioning shaping commercial decisions across every major trading basin
Drawing on data from the week ending 24 July 2026, the global Ultramax and Handysize markets navigated softer Atlantic conditions, resilient regional pockets and persistent geopolitical risks that continued shaping freight sentiment and commercial strategy
The Handy and Ultramax markets delivered an increasingly selective regional picture during the week ending 10 July 2026, with Atlantic resilience contrasting Asian caution as freight fundamentals, vessel positioning and geopolitical risks continued shaping sentiment
During the week ending 22 May 2026, the dry bulk market entered corrective territory, with Panamaxes leading losses while Capes, Ultramaxes and Handies recorded softer and uneven adjustments
During the week ending 15 May 2026, Ultramax and Handysize markets revealed widening regional imbalances as positioning, grain flows and tightening tonnage steadily reshaped global freight dynamics
Atlantic Ultramax and Handy markets display structural strength, reshaping global freight dynamics during the week ending 13 February 2026, ahead of Lunar New Year and Ramadan seasonal pauses
COSCO Shipping expands in Northern Europe, acquiring stakes in hinterland logistics to strengthen supply-chain resilience, integrate port networks, and offer shippers predictability amid congestion, capacity constraints, and geopolitical uncertainty
COSCO’s dominant presence in Piraeus underscores the growing U.S.–China competition, placing Greece at the center of a strategic struggle over port control, trade routes, and geopolitical influence in the Mediterranean
Israeli strategic advisor Shay Gal, an expert in crisis management and defense, exposes the hidden tensions of the Mediterranean. From Türkiye’s proxy maneuvers to Houthi threats, he maps deterrence and survival