Altering coal flows to spice up dry bulk ton-miles

Disruption to world coal commerce flows following Western sanctions on Russia may increase dry bulk freight charges as ton-miles improve.

The European Council April 8 agreed to undertake one other bundle of sanctions in opposition to Russia, together with banning imports of coal, in response to alleged warfare crimes.

The coal ban was considered one of six components of the sanctions bundle and can apply to all types of Russian coal, particularly metallurgical and thermal coal.

The Council stated the ban would have an effect on 1 / 4 of Russian coal exports.

“Commerce flows are shifting within the coal market with consumers scrambling to switch provides and in consequence rising voyage distances from trade-route modifications,” a dealer stated.

“The US, South Africa, Australia, Colombia and Indonesia may change Russian coal in Europe resulting in longer sea routes,” a charterer supply stated. “This, in concept, ought to positively have an effect on freight charges. However the query is for the way lengthy?”

The Hampton Roads-Rotterdam 70,000 mt coal route assessed by S&P World Commodity Insights reached its year-to-date excessive of $28.50/mt on March 24, up 104% from its year-to-date low of $14/mt on Feb. 3 as coal exports from the Hampton Street terminals elevated 20% from the earlier month to three million st in February, based on Virginia Maritime Affiliation knowledge.

Round 1 / 4 of all Russian coal exports in 2021 was shipped to Europe, based on S&P World, with Panamaxes the predominant carriers.

“Coal exports to Europe from key Russian ports are [of] quick period in comparison with different exporting international locations, that means bigger ton-mile when consumers change Russian provides,” a shipowner supply stated.
Russian Atlantic coal shipments have been dominated by Baltic ports and whereas some house owners have already averted sending their vessels to Russia altogether, others have been requesting premiums of round $2,000/day to enter Russian ports, market sources stated.

Whereas extra coal being delivered into Europe from different supplying international locations will initially increase ton-mile demand, market sources stated that pattern will lead to extra vessels opening round Europe and pressuring trans-Atlantic and front-haul freight charges, market sources added.

Europeans search alternate options
The ban on Russian coal imports got here at a time when a number of EU member states have been relying closely on the Russian vitality sector to fulfill their rising wants, and the ban will doubtless create volatility in coal commerce flows, particularly within the thermal coal market, market sources stated.

Russia is the first supply of thermal coal for European utilities, accounting for 33 million mt of imports in 2021, greater than half of all European thermal coal imports, based on S&P World knowledge.

Patrons throughout Europe had been seen trying to improve provide of non-Russian coal for a number of weeks now, both in anticipation of such a ban or as a result of they determined to self-sanction, market sources stated.

“Some consumers have already determined to self-sanction and exclude Russian cargoes from their orders,” a second dealer stated. “Commerce flows have already began to vary, with some consumers rejecting Russian cargoes and rerouting their vessels.”

Patrons have been buying cargoes from as far afield as Australia and Indonesia, whereas elevated flows from South Africa and Colombia have been additionally seen, sources stated, with consumers discussing extra long-term deliveries as effectively.

In consequence, Australian and Indonesian back-haul shipments to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean have already been rising, sources stated, and have been anticipated to stay in order the market readjusts to altering commerce flows.

Nevertheless, the long-term viability of that was unsure on condition that producers all had their very own provide points, and any improve in spot demand from China or India would almost definitely take in any availability, sources stated.

The EU will not be the one area imposing a ban on Russian coal, with the G7 — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and US — saying April 6 they might all be “phasing out and banning Russian coal imports”.

The UK stated April 6 it was planning to finish all dependency on Russian coal and oil by the tip of 2022 and finish imports of fuel as quickly as doable.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated April 8 the nation would even be lowering coal imports in phases and was trying to rapidly safe different options.
Supply: Platts