Bulker markets were mostly up again across the board on Friday, completing a week of significant growth across all tonnages -- particularly for capesizes.

Accordingly, the Baltic Dry Index was assessed 47 points higher than Thursday at 679 points.

Capesize earnings were assessed at $7,307 per day, having risen by $1,130 since Thursday, which is the biggest overnight increase seen since mid-July last year.

The assessment has more than doubled since last Friday, when it was $3,369 daily.

The Atlantic basin continues to show particularly strong growth in rates as iron ore cargoes from Brazil return to the market.

A huge $1,491 was added to the Baltic's assessment for round voyages to Brazil from China, which were priced at $7,500 per day on Friday.

Likewise, the key Brazil to China benchmark was assessed $1.18 higher at $11.08 per tonne.

Transmed's 203,100-dwt Pigi (built 2014) was reported fixed on the route to major trader Cargill at $10.50 per tonne on Friday, loading 6 July onwards.

The rival iron ore route, Western Australia to China, saw a less dramatic level of growth on Friday, rising by $0.218 to $5.473 per tonne.

A trio of fixtures were reported on the route, including a rare voyage from New Zealand.

An unnamed cape was reported fixed to Australian miner Roy Hill for a trip from Stanley Point to China at $6.00 per tonne, loading from 12 June.

Elsewhere in the East, trans-Pacific rounds from China/Japan were assessed $1,005 higher at $9,913 per day.

Panamaxes

Panamaxes were the only segment where overall growth stalled on Friday, but the impact was minimal, with earnings falling by just $12 to $7,324 per day, according to Baltic Exchange data.

"After a more positive week, the market appeared content to take stock on Friday, as firmer bunker prices acted to mitigate any downward pressure on the fronthaul voyage routes," the Baltic said in its daily market report on Friday.

"Question marks remain as to whether [East Coast] South America alone can continue to support the market, with some suggesting that a ceiling may have been found, in the short term at least."

This followed what the Baltic called an "eerily quiet" day on Thursday, where there was little chartering activity.

Although modest growth in rates was seen on most benchmark routes for panamaxes on Friday, this was more than offset by a decline in rates for round-voyages from Singapore via the Atlantic .

The route was assessed $83 lower at $9,950 per day, which brought down the Baltic's overall earnings assessment for the sector.

Rates for trans-Atlantic round trips from the Continent Skaw saw the biggest improvement of all the Baltic's panamax benchmarks, rising $30 to $3,615 daily.

Supramaxes

Earnings for ultramaxes and supramaxes were assessed $93 higher on Friday at $5,578 per day.

Tonnage availability in the Atlantic for cargoes from east coast South America remains tight, pushing up rates for vessels in the basin.

"An ultramax was said to have been covered for a trip from east coast south America trip east in the $12,000s plus equivalent ballast bonus but no further details came to light," the Baltic said in its report on Friday.

"From west Africa another unnamed ultra was rumoured fixed for a trip redelivery China in the mid/high $14,000s."

Ballasters from the Indian Ocean have been targeting the strong rates on offer for trips from South Africa, which has compounded the short fleet supply in the East Coast South America region.

Bulker operator Norvic Shipping was on Friday said to have placed Clipper's 63,325-dwt ultramax Clipper Kythira (built 2015) on subjects for a trip from South Africa to China at $9,750 daily.

But if confirmed, the fixture shows rates for trips from South Africa have undergone a reality check.

Thursday saw talk of a $300,000 ballast bonus plus a daily rate of $13,000 for a trip from South Africa to China, but the fixture for Niovis Shipping's 66,622-dwt Draftslayer (built 2014) failed on subjects.

The Draftslayer had been reported sold in February for demolition in Bangladesh, where scrapping activity has been halted in recent months due to public lockdowns.

Latest AIS data shows the vessel is live in the Indian Ocean, awaiting orders.

New period fixture

New York-listed owner Diana Shipping on Friday said the existing contract for one of its panamax bulkers has been extended by a further 13 to 16 months, starting on 9 June.

Dusseldorf-based Uniper Global Commodities has extended its charter of the 77,529-dwt Atalandi (built 2014) at a gross daily rate of $9,300 per day, minus 5% commission.

The new rate is a 24% reduction on the vessel's current contract, which commenced on 7 July last year at a gross daily rate of $12,250.