SUB: LIQUID/DRY COMMODITIES SCENARIO/PORT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS INDIA. We give below our report on the subject for your kind info and record:

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1 Date: 16/11/15 ATLANTIC REPORT NO 37/15 SUB: LIQUID/DRY COMMODITIES SCENARIO/PORT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS INDIA We give below our report on the subject for your kind info and record: A) LIQUID COMMODITIES SCENARIO 1) BUNKER PRICES TO EDGE DOWN NEXT WEEK Brent crude oil prices hit their lowest since late August on worries about growing U.S. stockpiles that could put pressure on oil prices. American Petroleum institute data showed U.S. crude stockpiles jumped last week in a seventh week of builds. The build was also above forecasts by analysts in a Reuter s poll. The U.S. Energy Information Administration issues official inventory data on Thursday. Brent is trading at $45.07 per barrel down 74 cents and WTI is at $42.18 per barrel down 75 cents at GMT 14:50 on Thursday. Surplus oil inventories are at the highest level in at least a decade because of increased global production, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Stockpiles in developed economies are 210 million barrels higher than their five-year average, exceeding the glut that accumulated in early 2009 after the financial crises, the organization said in a report B) DRY COMMODITIES SCENARIO 1) COAL IMPORTS AT MAJOR PORTS UP IN APRIL-OCT. Major Ports handled million tonnes (mt) of coal during April-October of the current fiscal ( ) as against mt in the same period of amid government efforts to boost domestic output. Of this volume, thermal coal imports increased by 18 per cent to mt in the first seven months. During April-October , these ports had handled mt of thermal coal. According to Indian Ports Association (IPA) data, import of coking coal, mainly used in steel-making, jumped 6.31 per cent to mt.major Ports had handled mt of coking coal in April-October

2 C) CONTAINER SERVICES 1) JSW JAIGARH PORT HANDLES FIRST CONTAINER VESSEL JSW Jaigarh Port achieved another landmark when it handled its maiden container vessel, MV SSL Chennai, which called at the port on November 7, It was the result of five years of hardship, opening the gateway for container movement in Kolhapur and the peripheral sector, stressed a release. The neighbouring regions like Ratnagiri, Chiplun- Mahad, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Belgaum are a major industrial base for foundry, textiles, seafood, agro commodities, etc. The entire trade is presently operating from JNPT. With the facility available next door at Jaigarh Port (near Ratnagiri), the distance has drastically reduced by 200 km, making it easier for all exporters and for the promotion of the trade. With this move, it is expected that container traffic of at least 2,000 TEUs per month could be diverted to Jaigarh Port immediately D) PORT DEVELOPMENTS 1) MORMUGAO PORT DROPS PLAN TO DEEPEN CHANNEL ON ANNUITY MODEL State-owned Mormugao port, located on India s western coast, has dropped a plan to deepen its channel to berth so-called capesize ships (the biggest of the dry bulk carriers) on a publicprivate-partnership (PPP) basis after the solitary price bid received in a public tender exceeded the budget. The project to deepen the port s outer channel to 19.8 metres and the inner channel to 19.5 metres and maintain the water depth at that level over the next 12 years was the first attempt by a port in India to implement dredging work on an annuity basis, a concept followed in the highways sector. The OP Jindal Group firm tied up with Dutch dredging contractor Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contracting Co. NV to take up the work. 2

3 2) REDUCTION OF STEVEDORING CHARGES FOR HANDLING OF WIND MILL PARTS & COMPONENTS Please find attached trade notice received from Adani Mundra Port with regards to the above subject. 3) VISAKHAPATNAM PORT TRUST. We are attaching herewith Circular received from Visakhapatnam port regarding Declaration of 13 0m draft vessels to be berthed at WQ6. 4) JNPT PORT- TRADE NOTICE Please find attached herewith Trade Notice received from JNPT Port Trust. E) OTHER DEVELOPMENTS-NIL F) WEATHER/STRIKE 1) DEPRESSION IN BAY MAY HIT SRI LANKA COAST FIRST The depression-in-the making has sailed into South-West Bay of Bengal, which is the basin lying closest to Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu coasts. It means that it has moved laterally from the South-East Bay of Bengal, 700 km East of Sri Lanka, where it was located earlier in the morning. The day's lateral movement towards the coast has seen it undergo intensification one round to being 'well-marked.' But latest indications suggested that the weather system would rebound off the Sri Lankan coast before impacting the South-East Tamil Nadu coast. India Met wind field projections indicated exactly this, supported more or less by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. According to India Met, after landfall over the South-East coast (Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram belt instead of Cuddalore- Puducherry earlier), it will plough into the immediate hinterland in adjoining South Kerala. But the European Centre is of the view that the system would climb up along the coast and reach Cuddalore-Puducherry as a weakened low-pressure area. 3

4 G) INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS 1) IRAN TO FACE BUMPY RE-ENTRY INTO GLOBAL OIL TANKER MARKET Iran s main tanker operator NITC remains blacklisted by the United States and European Union since 2012, meaning it s unable to secure foreign insurance or international classification services, which certify ships have met safety and environmental standards necessary to get access to most ports. Iranian media has quoted NITC officials as saying the group was readying its return to international markets and was in talks with Western insurers while also looking to expand its fleet. NITC officials could not be reached for comment. Since a July nuclear deal with world powers, Iran has repeatedly announced plans to boost oil production and exports once sanctions are lifted to reclaim its position as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries second-largest producer. The United States last month approved conditional sanctions waivers, although it cautioned these would not take effect until Tehran had curbed its nuclear programme. Iran s fleet includes 37 to 40 NITC supertankers, known as VLCCs, each capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil. Tanker tracking sources estimated that Iran was currently storing oil both crude and its derivative condensate on around 24 VLCCs versus 29 vessels in July. Lawyers say EU companies are likely to face fewer limitations in dealing with NITC than U.S. firms, which would complicate early deals given the importance of the U.S. financial system. Shipping and legal sources say the risk of a possible snap-back in sanctions, if Iran does not meet its commitments, is also likely to add to caution when dealing with NITC for now. 4

5 2) INDIA BANGLADESH SIGN SOP TO OPERATIONALISE COASTAL SHIPPING PACT India and Bangladesh signed the standard operating procedure (SOP) in New Delhi on Sunday, to operationalise the Agreement on Coastal Shipping, signed between the two countries in June, The SOP will pave the way to promote coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh and would enhance bilateral trade between the two countries by bringing down the cost of transportation of EXIM cargo. The SOP contains provisions which stipulate that India and Bangladesh shall render same treatment to the other country's vessels as it would have done to its national vessels used in international sea transportation. The two sides have also agreed upon the use of vessels of River Sea Vessel category for Indo- Bangladesh coastal shipping. Once it is operational, the Coastal Shipping Agreement would enable a huge saving in logistic costs of EXIM transport between the two countries. Thanks and Regards Ronak Shetty Managing Director ATLANTIC SHIPPING PVT. LTD. 5