Rio Tinto Extends Fleet Sell-Down to Post-Panamax Bulkers

## Rio Tinto Extends Fleet Sell-Down to Post-Panamax Bulkers Rio Tinto's strategic withdrawal from owned shipping capacity is broadening in scope, with the mining giant's vessel divestment programme now reaching into its post-panamax bulker fleet, according to Splash247. Broker reports cited by Splash247 indicate that the 89,892 dwt vessels *RTM Dias* and *RTM Flinders* — both built by Namura Shipbuilding in Japan in 2013 — have been sold en bloc for a combined $42.8 million, equating to approximately $21.4 million per vessel. The sale marks a notable extension of Rio Tinto's sell-down strategy, which had previously focused on clearing out its newcastlemax fleet earlier this year. The move signals that the diversified mining major is continuing to reduce its direct exposure to shipping assets across multiple vessel classes, a trend that has drawn considerable attention from the dry bulk market. ### Market Context Rio Tinto has historically maintained a fleet of owned and long-term chartered vessels to support the movement of iron ore and other bulk commodities from its mining operations, particularly in Australia and West Africa. The decision to divest owned tonnage reflects a broader industry shift among major commodity producers toward asset-light shipping models, relying instead on the spot and period charter markets to fulfil their logistics requirements. The sale of the *RTM Dias* and *RTM Flinders* at $21.4 million each represents a significant transaction in the secondhand post-panamax segment. Vessels of this size and vintage — now 12 to 13 years old — are closely watched by market participants as indicators of asset value sentiment in the dry bulk sector. The identity of the buyer or buyers has not been confirmed in broker reports at this stage. ### Implications for the Dry Bulk Market Rio Tinto's continued sell-down is likely to keep secondhand tonnage supply elevated in the larger bulker segments in the near term. However, the relatively firm pricing achieved on these units suggests sustained appetite among buyers for quality Japanese-built tonnage, even as the broader dry bulk freight market navigates a period of uncertainty. Industry observers will be watching closely to determine whether Rio Tinto's divestment extends further into its remaining fleet, and how the released vessels are redeployed under new ownership. *Source: Splash247*