I. Tianjin Shipping Index (TSI)

In Week 9, 2018 (Feb.26-Mar.2), Tianjin Container Freight Index (TCI) decreased rapidly. Tianjin Bulk Freight Index (TBI) increased to a high point and then decreased. Tianjin Domestic Container Freight Index (TDI) decreased markedly. Tianjin Shipping Index (TSI) kept decreasing. The TSI closed at 590.97 points with a decrease of 2.82% from Feb.23 (the last release day of Week 8). The TSI trend is as follows,

The chart above shows the trends of TSI from Feb.22 to Mar.2. The value of TSI in Week 9, 2018 is as follows,

II. Tianjin Container Freight Index (TCI)

In Week 9, 2018 (Feb.26 to Mar.2), the trend of TCI is as follows,

In week 9, the TCI decreased rapidly.

From Feb.26 to Feb.27 (Mon. to Tue.), the freight rates in European route, Mediterranean route, North American route, South American route and India-Pakistan route decreased slightly. The TCI decreased slightly by 0.42% on two consecutive release days. From Feb.28 to Mar.2 (Wed. to Fri.), the range of decrease in European route, Mediterranean route, North American route, South American route and India-Pakistan route became larger. The TCI kept decreasing by 5.41% on three consecutive release days.

The TCI closed at 422.71 points with a decrease of 26.06 points (5.81%) from Feb.24 (the last release day of Week 8).

The TCI index value saw several up and down on a day-on-day basis are as follows:

European/Mediterranean route Factories slowly returned to work and the shipment was on a low level. Besides, part of the transport capacity recovered, which caused the high pressure of loading rate. The freight rates kept decreasing. In European route, Mediterranean East route and Mediterranean West route, the freight indices decreased 7.95%, 7.37% and 9.73% respectively this week.

North American route The measures to reduce transport capacity during holidays were going on and the transport capacity did not recover. The transportation demand released before Spring Festival, therefore cargo volume presented a weak trend. The ship owners reduced the freight rates to guarantee loading rate. In North American West Coast route and North American East Coast route, the freight indices decreased 7.51% and 8.39% respectively this week.

South American route After the long holiday, cargo volume presented a weak trend and competition for cargo on the market was fierce. The freight rates decreased markedly this week. In South American West Coast route, South American East Coast route and Central South American route, the freight indices decreased 14.69%, 6.68% and 8.84% respectively this week.

India-Pakistan route Freight rates were on a high level before Spring Festival. There is pressure that the freight rates might decrease. Currently, cargo volume presented a weak trend. The freight indices decreased 7.41% this week.

III. Tianjin Bulk Freight Index (TBI)

Week 9, 2018 (Feb.26- Mar.2), Tianjin Bulk Freight Index (TBI) is shown as follows:

In week 9, the TBI kept upward trend at the beginning of the week and then dropped down slightly.

On Feb. 26 (Mon.), the freight rates of coal, grain and mineral ore kept increasing, which led the TBI increase 2.00%. And then, the increase range of freight rate of coal and grain narrowed, the rate of mineral ore decreased. The TBI decreased 0.78% from Feb 27 to Mar.1 (Tue. to Thu.)

On Mar.2 (Fri.), the freight rate of coal increased, the rate of grain decreased, and the rate of ore increased. The TBI increased and ended at 772.83 points with an increase of 10.24 points (1.34%) from Feb. 23 (the last release day of week 8).

TBI index value saw several ups and downs on a day-on-day basis are shown as follows:

The TBCI increased continuously this week and ended at 615.83 points, an increase of 34.92 points (6.01%) from Feb. 23 (the last release day of Week 8). For the Panamax market, the demand increased and the freight rate of the DBCT to Tianjin route continued the increase tendency and increased over 12%. For the Capesize market, the freight rate of Hay Point to Qingdao route decreased near 3.0%.

The TBGI demonstrated an increase tendency this week and ended at 689.49 points, an increase of 10.51 points (1.55%) from Feb. 23 (the last release day of week 8). The deal of South America grain was active, and the market was good which made the freight rate increased. The freight rate of South America to Tianjin increased 1.8%. The freight rates of US Gulf to Tianjin route increased near 1.3% and West America to Tianjin route increased 1.8%.

The TBMI rose first and then decreased in the middle of week and then kept stable. The TBMI ended at 1013.18 points, a decrease of 14.69 points (1.43%) from Feb. 23 (the last release day of week 8). For the iron ore, the domestic stock reached the high level and the import of iron ore depressed which led the optimistic mood faded and the freight rate decreased. The freight rates of West Australia to North China route decreased over 2.5% and Brazil to Tianjin route first increased and then decreased nearly 0.5%. As for nickel ore, the deal was active, the freight rate of Surigao to Tianjin route increase over 2.0% this week.

IV. Tianjin Domestic Container Freight Index (TDI)

Week 9, 2018 (Feb.26-Mar.02), the trend of Tianjin Domestic Container Freight Index (TDI) is shown in the chart below:

Compared with the TDI in Week 8, the TDI in Week 9 decreased sharply at first and then remained stable.

From Feb.26 (Mon.) to Feb.27 (Tues.), the Outward Index sank and the Inward Index declined slightly, which got the TDI decreased 6.32%. From Feb.28 (Wed.) to Mar.01 (Thur.), though the Outward Index kept stable, the Inward Index went better, which brought the TDI rose moderately. On Mar.02 (Thur.), the TDI was closed at 740.10 points, with a decrease of 44.92 points (5.72%) , compared with that on the last release day of Week 8.

The value of TDI ups and downs on a day-on-day basis are shown as follows:

Tianjin Domestic Container Outward Freight Index (TDOI) decreased significantly at the beginning of the week and then had an upward trend, finally being closed at 879.91 points on Mar.02 (Thur.), with a decrease of 88.74 points or 9.16% compared with that on Feb.24 (the last release day of Week 8). The trend of the freight rate indices of three routes was different. The freight rate index of Tianjin-Guangzhou route decreased 13.08% during this week, though ship owners tried to increase the freight later. However, the freight rate index of Tianjin-Shanghai route increased 9.00%. As for Tianjin-Quanzhou route, the freight rate index continually remained stable.

Tianjin Domestic Container Inward Freight Index (TDII) decreased slightly. The TDII was closed at 600.28 points on Mar.02, with a decrease of 1.1 points (0.18%) , compared with that on Feb.24 (the last release day of Week 8). The whole freight rate suffered a slight decline during the week. The freight rate index of Guangzhou-Tianjin and Shanghai-Tianjin route decreased separately 0.13% and 0.61%. The freight rate index of Quanzhou-Tianjin route kept stable.