Tariff suspension provides short term boost to commodity markets

The main story across freight and commodities over the past fortnight has been the headline-making 90-day tariff reduction between the US and China.

Hi, I’m Jess, and on this episode of Freight Up, myself and Davide unpack how this policy shift has tempered volatility and delivered a short-term lift to otherwise flat markets.

Ben Klang joins us after a busy run of industry events, detailing the impact on dry freight—where Capesize contracts saw a fleeting rebound before losing ground, and smaller Panamax and Supramax rates remained lacklustre.

We’ll investigate the cautious optimism on the macro front, following stubborn inflation and steady US employment numbers.

We'll also take a closer look at iron ore and steel markets, with regional insights you won’t want to miss.

From Shanghai, Hao Pei explores iron ore’s resilience—even as tariffs shift—and the mounting influence of port logistics in Peru and ongoing maintenance cycles in China.

Timestamped summary

00:00 Mixed Inflation and Market Stability

03:32 Cape Size Contract Fluctuations

08:06 Steel Tariffs Impact and Trade Dynamics

10:44 FOBCC Market Outlook Uncertain

13:24 US Steel Market Challenges

18:10 "Spot Price Drop Forecasted"

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