A capesize bulker owned by Wah Kwong Shipping has been locked into a period contract.

Rio Tinto has chartered the 176,000-dwt Cape Asia (built 2011) for 12 months at $15,900 per day, according to the Baltic Exchange.

The rate compares with the $16,361 per day available on the spot market on Thursday.

Data from Clarksons Platou Securities this week showed capesize bulkers to have averaged $12,000 per day in 2017, some way from the $3,000 per day seen at the same stage in 2016.