# DRY BULK QUARTERLY: South American grain demand drives rise in Atlantic Panamax rates | S&P Global

> The Platts KMAX9 Panamax index averaged $18,933 per day in Q2 2026, 65% above Q2 2025, driven by strong East Coast South America to Far East grain shipments. The Santos-Qingdao grain fronthaul averaged about $50.18 per metric ton, 40% higher year over year.

- Date: 2026-07-08 · published 2026-07-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region Brazil · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16794-dry-bulk-quarterly-south-american-grain-demand-drives-rise-in-atlantic-panamax
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Strong South American grain flows to Asia tighten Panamax tonnage and lift grain freight, supporting Brazilian export costs and competing with US Gulf sales into Asia.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2025-03-14 | [Global soybean crush forecast hits record high amid increased demand \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25657-global-soybean-crush-forecast-hits-record-high-amid-increased-demand-feed-and.md) | +1.6% | +3.2% |
| SOY | 2026-09-09 | [China continues US soybean push amid South American purchases \| World Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14550-china-continues-us-soybean-push-amid-south-american-purchases-world-grain.md) | +1.2% | +0.0% |
| SOY | 2026-08-13 | [Soy Demand Rises to Meet Large Crop - American Soybean Association](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17962-soy-demand-rises-to-meet-large-crop-american-soybean-association.md) | +4.9% | +13.0% |
| SOY | 2025-02-13 | [South American bean production and balance sheets - Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26099-south-american-bean-production-and-balance-sheets-iowa-agribusiness-radio.md) | +1.7% | -3.0% |
| SOY | 2024-02-06 | [February WASDE Will Check in on South America](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7201-february-wasde-will-check-in-on-south-america.md) | -0.3% | -4.6% |
| CORN | 2017-12-18 | [Rabobank Global Poultry Quarterly: Promising Outlook for 2018—Although Avian Influenza Concerns Are Rising - Poultry News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67618-rabobank-global-poultry-quarterly-promising-outlook-for-2018-although-avian.md) | +0.8% | +0.0% |
| CORN | 2020-11-27 | [Grain: global production estimates sharply revised - Mundus Agri](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50011-grain-global-production-estimates-sharply-revised-mundus-agri.md) | +0.1% | -0.9% |
| CORN | 2024-02-06 | [February WASDE Will Check in on South America](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7201-february-wasde-will-check-in-on-south-america.md) | -1.7% | +0.3% |

## Sources

- spglobal.com: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/shipping/070826-dry-bulk-quarterly-south-american-grain-demand-drives-rise-in-atlantic-panamax-rates

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.