Bulker owner Diana Shipping has fixed out an ultramax and a capesize vessel. The Greek owner has chartered out its 60,309 -dwt ultramax DSI Aquila (built 2015) to Western Bulk Carriers of Norway for ten to twelve months, starting 22 November. The vessel will earn a gross charter rate of $13,300 per day, minus a 5% commission, for a period until minimum September 15 up to maximum November 15 next year. Meanwhile, EGPN Bulk Carrier Co of Hong Kong has booked Diana’s 177,729-dwt capesize Houston (built 2009) for 19 to 20 months at $13,000 per day, minus 5% commission. The capesize will commence the contract on 21 November and will redeliver to Diana between 1 July and August 31 2024.

Reported period deals have been scarce, especially in the capesize market, while the spot market remains subdued and ahead of the seasonally weak start of the year. However, a rare capesize fixture was seen at the start of November, when food and agri-business company Olam took Richland Bulk’s 180,091-dwt Barbarian Honor (built 2011) for a year at $16,000 per day, delivering in the Far East at the end of February. Capesize paper for the calendar year 2023 traded at $12,000 per day on Friday. In the physical market, Baltic Exchange panelists assessed the 5TC average spot rate $550 lower than Thursday at $9,305 per day.

Western Bulk has just taken another Diana ultramax, the 60,309-dwt DSI Andromeda (built 2016), on charter for 11 to 13 months at a gross daily rate of $14,250, less commission. It also reportedly fixed Sea Trade Holdings’ 60,309-dwt STH Tokyo (built 2016) on Wednesday for 10 to 12 months at $14,000 per day, delivering in Rotterdam promptly. Ultramax freight forward agreements for the 2023 calendar year traded at $11,850 per day on Friday. The supramax 10TC average spot rate was assessed at $12,870 per day, down by $59 from Thursday. Diana Shipping beat Wall Street’s expectations during the third quarter by getting higher time charter rates for its fleet of bulkers. Diana’s bulker fleet earned an average daily rate of $23,289 during the period, against $17,143 per day a year earlier. The Semiramis Paliou-led owner reported net income of $31.7m for the third quarter, versus $14.7m in profit during the same period last year.