As Chinese buyers have been hoovering up capes at roughly one ship per week this year — mostly vintage tonnage around 18 years of age — European buyers have been largely absent from global broking reports. One notable exception is Geneva-headquartered Mercuria Energy.

Brokers tie the trader to the 182,100 dwt Epic (built 2010 at Odense Steel) for a price in the mid-$32m range, according to broking sources. A CM Lemos affiliate, Nereus Shipping, sold the vessel. The acquisition marks Mercuria’s fifth cape purchase since September, a purchasing spree that signals confidence in earnings while ignoring the typical seasonal slowdown. 

The deal represents a step up from the one-year-younger Namura-built Frontier Kotobuki (174,810 dwt, built 2011), which changed hands a few weeks ago for $31.4m. 

Mercuria has also been active on the wet side. Last week the group was fixing out VLCC tonnage, with Tankers International listing it as operator on several units. Olympic Life (built 2019) was noted on subs at $143,000 per day, while Hercules I (built 2017) was fixed at $151,000 per day, and the C. Innovator (built 2012) was reported on subs at around $152,000 per day. The 2017-built Sophia was also on subs, though no rate was attached.

The twin exposure in both capesize and VLCC markets underlines Mercuria’s expanding footprint across dry bulk and crude. Marco Dunand and Daniel Jaeggi control the Swiss trading house.