Small Norwegian bulker owner Misje Bulk is seeing better rates but that did not prevent the company from logging a loss last year.

The outfit, which owns and operates 10 vessels of 4,200 dwt, reported a pre-tax loss of €600,000 ($710,000) against a €500,000 profit in 2015.

Misje Bulk's operating revenue dropped to €18.2m, down from €19.8m in 2015. In the first four months of this year, the company saw a 9% increase in rates compared to the same period last year.