Strong Financial Position and Liquidity
Pacific Basin maintained a robust financial position with $548 million of available committed liquidity, including $282 million in cash and deposits. The company also returned to a net cash position of $20 million in 2024.
Shareholder Value Initiatives
The Board recommended a total dividend of 50% of net profit for 2024 and approved a $40 million share buyback program for 2025. In 2024, the company completed a $40 million share buyback, reducing issued share capital by 2%.
Improvement in Freight Rates
Average market spot freight rates for Handysize and Supramax increased by 24% and 21% year-on-year, respectively, driven by strong Chinese demand for coal, iron ore, and bauxite.
Outperformance in Handysize and Supramax
In 2024, Handysize and Supramax vessels outperformed indices by $1,720 and $710 per day, respectively. The Handysize outperformance was driven by well-timed cargo coverage and optimized trading.
Strategic Fleet Management
The company exercised the purchase option on a 158,000 deadweight tonnage Supramax vessel and sold five older Handysize vessels, maintaining a disciplined approach to fleet growth and renewal.