Noble Group is exploring the sale of a 2011-built capesize at a time when sale-and-purchase markets are proving inhospitable for would-be sellers.

The Singapore-listed commodity trader hopes to achieve $27m for the Dalian-built 180,300-dwt Aqua Vision, which entered the market last week, S&P specialists told TradeWinds on Wednesday.

But Noble could be setting its hopes too high, brokers said, given that three other capesizes on the market have failed to attract much interest.