Bulk carrier freight rates in the second quarter of 2026 continued to recover from the first quarter of 2026, averaging 34,100 US dollars per day for Capesize vessels, 18,300 dollars per day for Panamax, 15,800 dollars per day for Supramax, and 13,900 dollars per day for Handysize, according to Nattapon Khamthakhruea, Director of Securities Analysis at Yuanta Securities Thailand. For the third quarter of 2026, which is the high season for the shipping business, freight rates are expected to remain at high levels or edge slightly higher, with Capesize likely to move in a range of 30,000 to 38,000 US dollars per day, Panamax at 17,000 to 21,000 dollars per day, Supramax at 15,000 to 18,000 dollars per day, and Handysize at 13,000 to 15,000 dollars per day. Meanwhile, Kasikorn Securities stated in its analysis that PSL is expected to report a normal profit of 291 million baht for the second quarter of 2026, swinging from a loss compared to the same period last year, supported by strong demand for iron ore and grain shipping. RCL is expected to report a normal profit of 2.1 billion baht, up 5 percent from the same period last year and up 33 percent from the previous quarter. Kasikorn Securities has upgraded its recommendations for both PSL and RCL to Buy, raising the target price for PSL to 9 baht from 6.8 baht, and for RCL to 40 baht from 33.0 baht.
Precious Shipping Public Company LimitedStrong demand for iron ore and grain shipping supports PSL's turnaround to profit.
Regional Container Lines Public Company LimitedStrong demand for iron ore and grain shipping supports RCL's profit growth.