Bulker prices continue to firm, with fresh secondhand sales showing a steady uptick in values. Both traditional owners and asset players are seizing the opportunity to capitalise. 

Several broking reports note that Taiwanese owner Hsin Chien Marine is selling its second ship this year, departing with the New Ascent (82,000 dwt, 2012, Tsuneishi), reportedly sold to Greek interests for $19.9m, marking a clear lift in kamsarmax values. 

In the supramax segment, after a failed attempt at the end of last month, Turkish owner Oras is noted letting go of the Karadeniz S (57,000 dwt, 2012, STX) for $14.25m, slightly above the $13.85 m a sister ship sold for in September. 

Smaller bulkers are also tracking the same upward curve. Singapore’s Raffles is noted selling the Arawana (32,000-dwt, 2012, Taizhou) for $9.5m, compared with the one-year-older sister vessel T Symphony (32,000 dwt, 2011, Taizhou), which changed hands in September for $8.6m.