Brokers reported a string of capesize deals in the sale-and-purchase (S&P) market this week, in a further sign of growing buying appetite for dry bulk carriers amid a rising freight market.
Capesize transactions have been few and far between in the first half of this year.
As the market improved over the past few weeks, however, an increasing number of deals is said to have occurred, according to several brokers reports.
The latest vessel reported sold is the 170,000-dwt Cape Maria (built 2005), which Stamatis Molaris-led Alma Maritime is said to have offloaded to Greek peers for $13.8m.
If the ship was indeed sold, Molaris didn't have to wait long to find a buyer.
It is barely a week since the Hyundai Samho-built vessel circulated for sale on the S&P market.
Greek brokers said it was inspectable for sale in China on 12 and 13 July.
This is the second time this year that Alma Maritime is being linked to a capesize sale.
At the end of May, the company reportedly sold the 176,300-dwt Iron Fritz (built 2003) to Chinese buyers for $12.3m.
The transaction, however, has not been confirmed yet, with the NKK-built Iron Fritz still being listed as part of Alma's fleet.
Equally unconfirmed is a more recent $17.75m deal reported by some Athens-based brokers, in which unidentified Greeks bought the 180,200-dwt Nord Steel (built 2007).
China's Agri Corp is said to have snapped up the 175,100-dwt MSXT Vivienne (built 2004) for about $12.5m.
Capesize rates are running at the highest level since 2014 at over $30,000 per day following a summer spike in the market.
