New analysis from AXSMarine, leveraging advanced AIS-derived and commercial datasets, confirms the dry bulk sector’s complex dynamism, highlighting record global discharge volumes and the increasingly diversified operational footprint of the Kamsarmax fleet.
Global dry bulk discharges reached an all-time high of 1.47 billion metric tons in Q3 2025, marking a robust 4.4% increase compared to the same period last year. This historic volume was underpinned by strong performance across key commodities, most notably Bauxite.
Kamsarmax Vessels Define Diversification
The Kamsarmax dry bulk segment (80K–85K DWT) proved to be the market’s most versatile asset, demonstrating a global footprint far more diversified than its larger Capesize counterparts. Between January and September 2025, the top 10 Kamsarmax loading ports accounted for less than 35% of global voyages, a sharp contrast to the Capesize segment, where the top five ports cover over half of all voyages.
Key loading points for Kamsarmax vessels included:
- 1st Place: Port of Santos, Brazil – Originating over 430 voyages (6.9% of global loadings), primarily driven by the export of soybeans and corn.
- 2nd Place: Port of Newcastle, Australia – Saw more than 350 voyages, representing a significant 29.1% year-over-year increase, fueled by strong coal and grain movements.
- 3rd Place: Vancouver, Canada – Contributed nearly 250 departures, or 3.9% of the global total.
Interestingly, the port of Kamsar in Guinea, which lent its name to the vessel type, contributed only 1.1% of all voyages, further reinforcing the fleet’s widespread utilization across global trade flows.
Among major dry bulk commodities, Bauxite demonstrated the strongest year-over-year growth. Global Bauxite discharges between Q1 and Q3 2025 totaled 181 million metric tons, representing a record-setting 21.5% increase for the first three quarters of any year on record.
Steels and Fertilizers also sustained significant positive growth rates, increasing by 9.7% and 9.3%, respectively, and contributing to the overall strength of the dry bulk demand.
Executive Commentary
“These latest figures confirm the dry bulk sector is operating at an unprecedented level of activity, defined by both record volumes and shifting geographical emphasis,” said [Name], Head of Market Intelligence at AXSMarine. “The exceptional growth of Bauxite is a compelling indicator of evolving global industrial supply chains. Crucially, the Kamsarmax segment’s massive port and cargo diversification acts as a significant stabilizing factor for the market as a whole.”
