Current Market Reports

As of October, Marcon had 14 inland and 22 ocean/coastal tank barges available for sale out of 673 tracked. The tank barge market remains strong on a continued uptrend fueled by higher commodity demand and prices. The inland market is strong with high utilization and rising rates. Utilization in the 90 percent range, coupled with low levels of new construction of barges, is driving rates higher. The coastal market is steady, but still suffering from an overhang of excess capacity.

In our September 2022 offshore market report, Marcon reports 448 supply, tug supply, crew, fast supply and pilot boats officially on the market for sale out of 4,100 tracked worldwide. The pandemic severely stalled sales activity from the second quarter of 2020 through the end of 2021. To date in 2022, we have seen an increase in sales as sellers' pricing adjust to what the market will bear for age and condition. Improvement in the offshore oilfield and the offshore wind markets are driving demand for units.

In June 2022, Marcon reported 49 push boats officially on the market for sale out of 796 tracked. This is down 9.26% and 46.15% from one and five years ago, respectively. The U.S. inland market has been stronger in 2022. Major drivers continue to include supply chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine, general inflationary pressures and high fuel prices. Overall Marcon has seen an increase in activity across several maritime sectors in the first half of 2022, with a limited supply of good second-hand vessels and barges being the primary factor influencing the number of sales.

In May, Marcon reported 409 tugs officially on the market for sale out of 5,198 tracked. This is down 13.89% from one year ago and 31.03% from five years ago. Marcon has closed ten sales to date in 2022 and we have several additional sales pending. This aligns with positive sentiment overall. Activity has nearly doubled compared to 2021 (our worst year ever) and it seems we have finally broken out of the Covid-19 overhang. Operating tugs and barges are in short supply both in the US and international market. Across the age spectrum, the lack of inventory on the second-hand market is our biggest challenge as brokers. The rise in diesel prices has refocused buyers on fuel efficiency, creating greater demand for lower BHP "right-sized" tugs. Inflation in general has driven up prices to maintain and reactivate tugs and barges, driving the prices of units with current certificates higher.