Taylor Maritime Limited, the specialist dry bulk shipping company, Friday announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the quarter ended 30 June 2025.

Commenting on the trading update Edward Buttery, Chief Executive Officer, said:

“Having already set course to zero bank debt, a goal we achieved in July 2025, we continued to sell vessels to defend shareholder value given our view of further potential downside in asset values amidst steady fleet growth in the near-term and a slowing global economy.

This approach has preserved an estimated c.$82 million of value across 49 disposals since January 2023 which have been achieved at an average 3.1% discount to NAV.

While we have positioned the Company to navigate near-term volatility, we retain a positive medium-term outlook for the dry bulk market overall.  With our sales programme expected to complete by the end of the year, the Company is now virtually ungeared with cash on the balance sheet and undrawn revolver capacity providing strategic flexibility.  Our priority is to maintain our regular quarterly dividend and we will continue to consider additional dividends to shareholders.”

Preserving value through vessel sales

· As announced on 16 July 2025, the Company agreed 5 new vessel sales during the period with a further 5 vessel sales agreed post period for combined gross proceeds of c.$176.3 million, representing an average 1.1% discount to Fair Market Value[8]. 4 of these vessel sales have since completed with the remaining 6 sales expected to complete between now and the end of December 2025
· The above sales are in addition to the 11 sales announced on 25 April 2025 for combined gross proceeds of c.$172.5 million, all of which have now completed
· Overall, the Company has executed 49 disposals since the beginning of 2023, including 22 in the 2025 calendar year, as part of a vessel sales programme at an average of 3.1% discount to Fair Market Value. These sales will have generated total gross proceeds of $806.9 million once agreed sales complete

Fleet development and market value

· The fleet comprised 18[9] Japanese-built vessels at quarter end which will reduce to 8[10] Japanese-built vessels after announced sales complete with a current average age of 10.7 years and average carrying capacity of c.43.3k dwt. The Company also has 1 vessel under JV agreement and 6 vessels in its chartered in fleet
· The Market Value of the fleet[11] decreased quarter-on-quarter by c.6.6% on a like-for-like basis, to c.$338.0 million. After climbing in the spring in line with freight rates, Supra/Ultramax vessel values declined over the period despite a stable earnings environment with forecasts of an acceleration of fleet growth in 2025 weighing on sentiment. Handysize vessel values, meanwhile, held steady through the period in line with rates

Operating results, fleet outperforms benchmark indices

· The Company generated charter revenue of $37.3 million, equating to fleet-wide time charter equivalent (“TCE”) earnings of $11,284 per day for the period (versus $61.8 million charter revenue and $13,308 per day TCE earnings for the equivalent period last year) given a smaller operating fleet and relatively softer freight market environment with Handysize and Supra/Ultramax spot rates, respectively, c.19% and c.33% lower than the equivalent period last year
· The Company recorded a net loss for the quarter of $11.3 million, or $0.03 net loss per share, which includes depreciation of $12.0 million
· Relative to benchmark indices[12], the Handysize fleet outperformed by $1,004 per day (c.11%) and the Supra/Ultramax fleet outperformed by $2,022 per day (c.20%) for the period
· The number of covered fleet ship days remaining for the current financial year stands at 60% at an average TCE rate of $12,915 per day[13] with increasing levels of period cover being taken while rates remain firm and before an expected seasonal summer slowdown

Zero bank debt target now achieved

· The Group’s outstanding debt stood at $98.4 million as at 30 June 2025 (versus $247.1 million as at 31 March 2025) representing a debt-to-gross assets ratio of 20.5% (versus 38.2% at 31 March 2025). This comprised $49.6 million bank debt and $48.8 million relating to financial liabilities under sale-leaseback transactions
· Post period, the Company applied net proceeds from recently completed vessel sales, plus a portion of existing cash on the balance sheet, to the prepayment of all outstanding bank debt. As a result, the Group’s outstanding debt is now $46.4 million, comprising sale-leaseback transactions including a $22.4 million purchase option which will fall away upon expiry, representing a debt-to-gross assets ratio of 9.7% (or 5.0% excluding the $22.4m purchase option) based on Fair Market Values as at end of June 2025
· As at 30 June 2025, Right-of-Use (ROU) assets stood at $9.7 million while lease liabilities were $8.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents[14] were $62.4 million and other assets, including the Company’s investment in a vessel held under JV arrangement, stood at $28.1 million at the end of the period

Dividend declared

The Board is also pleased to declare an interim dividend in respect of the period to 30 June 2025 of 2 US cents per ordinary share:

Shareholders are reminded of the Company’s facility for those wishing to receive dividends in sterling rather than US Dollar, as set out at the end of this release[i].

Dry bulk market review and outlook

Despite initial concerns surrounding US tariff announcements in early April, the direct impact on dry bulk trade has so far been limited.  An agreement between the US and China in May to pause tariffs for an initial 90-day period led to an improvement in sentiment and market conditions remained relatively stable through the period as a result.  By the end of June, the BHSI and BSI TCA were $11,426 per day and $12,796 per day respectively; up by 15% and 10% from their period low points.  Charter rates strengthened post period with Supra/Ultramax rates climbing considerably (BSI currently c.$16,900 per day) as a longer than usual Brazilian soybean season coincides with the start of the Brazilian corn export season generating strong demand.

Values of second-hand Supra/Ultramax vessels, meanwhile, declined over the period and have not responded to the post period strengthening in spot rates with sentiment waning given recent forecasts suggesting an acceleration of Supra/Ultramax deliveries in 2025 and demolition rates remaining low.  Clarksons benchmark Handysize second-hand values have remained stable in line with charter rates over the period.

Looking forward, overall dry bulk demand is expected to be modest for the remainder of 2025 compared to the strong levels seen in 2024 amid a range of headwinds predominantly stemming from elevated levels of trade protectionism.  Clarksons forecast combined minor bulk and grain demand to grow by 1.0% in 2025 with ongoing trade uncertainty expected to lead to lower industrial activity and global GDP growth.  Meanwhile, tonnage continues to be diverted from the Red Sea, supporting tonne-mile demand, with a return to normal transit activity through the Suez Canal unlikely in the near-term given renewed attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi rebels in the area.

While trade and macroeconomic uncertainty continues to create concern for short-term demand and current forecasts for 2026 are for soft market conditions to persist, supply-side dynamics continue to support a constructive medium-term outlook.  Geared dry bulk fleet growth remains reasonable by historical standards with forecasts of 4.6% and 3.8% net supply growth in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Furthermore, it is anticipated there will be fewer deliveries beyond these dates should the steep drop in newbuild investment (bulk carrier ordering is down 73% year to date) be maintained amid geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty.  Meanwhile, a significant portion of the global geared dry bulk fleet continues to approach scrapping age, with 10.1% of the current Handysize fleet and 5.5% of the current Supra/Ultramax fleet reaching 25 years or older in 2025.  With softer market conditions expected in 2025 and 2026 and the IMO’s recent decision to implement global market-based measures to reduce GHG emissions, scrapping activity may accelerate, providing further supply side support.

Sustainability / ESG

The Company today released its annual report covering the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 in which is included the Company’s fourth ESG disclosure.  This disclosure highlights progress made on the Group’s sustainability priorities including decarbonisation, social and community impact, and responsible business practices.

The Company’s disclosure follows guidance from the Task Force on Climate-related Disclosure, the Global Reporting Initiative and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board.

Measurable progress was made towards the Group’s decarbonisation targets during the financial year; fleet carbon intensity as measured by AER (“Average Efficiency Ratio”), improved by 7% year on year, remaining on track with the IMO’s decarbonisation trajectory.

The Company obtained independent assurance of TML’s greenhouse gas emissions to ISO 14064-3 standards.
Source: Taylor Maritime Limited