Brokers report that a string of fresh supramax candidates are being circulated for sale, but few buyers are willing to delve into their wallets.
More than 30 supramaxes are for grabs, reports one broker, with the sector helping the Baltic Dry Index rally in the past few days.
Owners who have put out more than five supramaxes for sale in last week include Turkey’s Mardeniz who has put seven ships up for sale. These ships however have been on and off for sale for a couple of years, notes one broker.
Other owners circulating supramaxes for sale include container specialist Hartmann, which has just laid its fleet of supramaxes up for sale. If sold this will mark an exit from the pure bulk carrier sector for the German owner. The outfit will still will have some MPP ships in addition to a significant number of containerships. Hartmann took its last supramax of a series of six from Zheijang Shipyard in Ningbo at the end of 2009.
