The strength of the capesize market in ­January has galvanised dry bulk sentiment, but it could be the panamaxes and smaller bulkers that take the driver’s seat in 2021.

Dry bulk freight markets got off to an unexpectedly strong start, with the average for the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) in January at its highest in more than a decade. The Baltic Capesize Index had its strongest January since 2010 and period rates for one year reached the highest levels since last summer.