Americas Report 15 October 2026

Dry cargo rates in the West Coast South America (WCSA) region have remained firm, supported primarily by the North Pacific (NOPAC) and East Coast South America (ECSA) markets, even as overall activity has slightly eased compared to the previous week. Tonnage availability is particularly limited among larger vessels, which could bolster rates as cargo volumes are anticipated to rise heading into the year-end. In the context of year-on-year comparisons, the Supramax time-charter rates have shown significant increases, with reports indicating rises of up to 44 per cent on routes from WCSA to the Far East. Meanwhile, port congestion issues continue to persist, particularly affecting logistical flow from key South American ports.