Tanker Market: Aframaxes on the Rise

VLCC
In the Middle East Gulf, 270,000mt to China came under renewed downward pressure, with Unipec able to fix at WS 54.5 and South Korea at WS 53. Going West, Valero agreed WS 26 Cape to Cape for 280,000mt to the US Gulf, and is now assessed at WS 25.25. ENI agreed WS 56.5 for 260,000mt from Angola to China, but this could soften. Hound Point/South Korea went at $6.15m compared to $6.00 the previous week, while Occidental fixed US Gulf to Singapore at $6.35 million.

Suezmax
West Africa/UK-Continent lost 7.5 points to WS 72.5 for 130,000mt, but then fixed at WS 75. Despite Turkish Straits delays of around 36 days North and Southbound, Black Sea/Mediterranean rates for 135,000mt fell 10 points to WS 97.5.

Aframax
A tightening in the tonnage list saw rates rise late last week for 80,000mt, Ceyhan/Med, to the low 100s, with potential for further increases having dropped to WS 87.5 at the start. Black Sea followed a similar trend, easing 15 points to WS 110 before recovering to WS 140. In the Baltic, rates for 100,000mt gained 10 points to WS 100, while 80,000mt cross North Sea firmed to WS 110/112.5 from WS 107.5. Caribbean rates for 70,000mt from Venezuela to the US Gulf gained 10 points to WS 165.

Clean
Rates for 75,000mt Middle East Gulf/Japan held at WS 130, with the market for 55,000mt losing in excess of 10 points at WS 130s.

The market for 37,000mt Continent/USAC firmed 10 points to WS 135. The 38,000mt backhaul trade from the US Gulf dipped to high WS 80s, before recovering to WS 95.
Source: The Baltic Briefing