Clean

LR2

LR’s in the MEG have taken a heavy re-correction down this week in terms of freight. The 75Kt MEG/Japan TC1 index lost 25.78 points to WS146.11. Similarly on a 90kt MEG/UK-Continent TC20 run nearly 10% of the value was lost down to the current mark at a shade over $4m.

West of Suez, Mediterranean/East LR2’s on TC15 have again been inactive this week, with the index subsequently dropping from $3.475m to $3.27m.

LR1
In the MEG, LR1 freight levels also came off this week, although to a lesser extent than the LR2’s. The 55kt MEG/Japan index of TC5 dipped from WS167.5 to WS154.69 and on the 65kt MEG/UK-Continent of TC8 lost about $200,000 to $3.34m.

On the UK-Continent, the 60Kt ARA/West Africa TC16 index returned back to WS175 gradually over the course of the week with little open market fixing to report.

MR

MR’s in the MEG continued on their downward trajectory this week. The 35kt MEG/East Africa TC17 index, as a result, dipped to the tune of 17.14 points to WS210. This took the Baltic round trip TCE for the run under $20,000/day mark for the seventh time this year.

UK-Continent MR’s continued to be active this week, with available tonnage thinned and steady off market fixing bolstered firming. The 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic coast of TC2 added 10.25 points to be currently pegged at WS180. TC19 (37kt ARA/West Africa) also optimistically hopped up to a current level of WS191.88 (+11.25).

The USG MR’s have been sitting on the fence this week, with just enough happening in the open market to prevent rates from dropping off. TC14 (38kt US-Gulf/UK-Continent) lingered around the WS112.5-115 level whilst 38kt US-Gulf/Brazil on TC18 hovered in the WS197.5-200 region. A 38kt US-Gulf/Caribbean TC21 run has followed suit but ultimately added $30,000 to the index to $703,571.

The MR Atlantic Triangulation Basket TCE climbed for the second week by $817 to $24,003.

Handymax

In the Mediterranean, Handymax’s remained balanced, with rates holding flat around the WS195 mark all week. In northwest Europe, the TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent shed just under 10 points to WS164.17.

VLCC

The market turned upwards this week across the board, peaking on Wednesday and then steadying. The rate for 270,000 mt Middle East Gulf to China rose 12 points week-on-week to WS71.83, corresponding to a daily round-trip TCE of $51,290 basis the Baltic Exchange’s vessel description. The 280,000mt Middle East Gulf to US Gulf trip (via the cape/cape routing) is now assessed six points higher than last Friday at WS39.44.

In the Atlantic market, the rate for 260,000 mt West Africa/China rose 11 points to WS74.10 (which shows a round voyage TCE of $54,551/day), while the rate for 270,000 mt US Gulf/China is $211,111 firmer at $10,238,889 ($45,884/day round trip TCE).

Suezmax

Suezmaxes in West Africa had another progressive week until Thursday, with sentiment now a little weaker. The rate for 130,000 mt Nigeria/UK Continent has risen eight points over the week to WS161.36 (a daily round-trip TCE of $76,743), having peaked at WS164 on Wednesday. In the Mediterranean and Black Sea region, the 135,000 mt CPC/Med route, with the assistance of a very firm Aframax market, has risen another 19 points since last Friday to WS167.3 (showing a daily TCE of $86,989 round-trip). In the Middle East, the rate for 140,000mt Middle East Gulf to the Mediterranean climbed nine points to just shy of WS90.

Aframax

In the North Sea, the rate for the 80,000 mt Cross-UK Continent route has gradually slackened this week, losing 15 points since last Friday, to WS199.64 (showing a round-trip daily TCE of $90,970 basis Hound Point to Wilhelmshaven). In the Mediterranean market, the rate for 80,000 mt Cross-Mediterranean continued upwards, adding another 32 points, to WS252.89 (basis Ceyhan to Lavera, that shows a daily round trip TCE of $96,603).

On the other side of the Atlantic, rates were steady until Thursday, when a build-up of available tonnage and thereby weakening sentiment, pulled rates back down. The rate for 70,000 mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf has fallen 38 points since last Friday to WS270 (a daily round-trip TCE of $88,615) and the 70,000 mt Covenas/US Gulf rate tumbled 33 points to WS259.06 (a round-trip TCE of $77,748/day). The rate for the trans-Atlantic route of 70,000mt US Gulf/UK Continent has slipped 10.5 points since a week ago to WS259.38 (a round trip TCE basis Houston/Rotterdam of $75,129/day).

Source: Baltic Exchange