Industry analysts and shipping companies are continuing to look for hard signs of a permanent recovery in the dry bulk shipping market. However, a complex weave of influences across the globe is keeping the picture rather murky.

Baltic Dry Index

On the one hand, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) finished last week at 745, more than twice the value it stood at in February, when it hit a record low. But do remember that this increase is off a horrendous all-time low point. Therefore, the increase is still anemic and nothing to be excited about. If anything, the record lows were so low as to be unsustainable. And at the same time China, which has traditionally been the driver of a healthy dry bulk market, continues to experience a slowing economy, primarily due to a pullback from private sector investors. By May of this year, the growth in private sector investments had fallen to 1% year-on-year. Analysts point to a number of factors, and regardless which you believe, it is undeniable that many Investors are sitting it out for now, holding onto their cash and waiting to see what happens. Continue reading →