LR2

The TC1 75kt MEG/Japan held flat this week with the index published around the WS565-568 level. A voyage west also remained steady with the TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent index climbing a modest by $34,300 to $9.38 million. West of the Suez Canal, the TC15 80kt Mediterranean/East index added another $100,400 to $6.17 million, although the corresponding Baltic round-trip TCE dropped by $760 to $39,200/day via Suez.

LR1

MEG LR1s also held resolute at current freight costs this week. The TC5 55kt MEG/Japan index rose 3.75 points to WS621. A run west on TC8, 65kt MEG/UK-Continent also rose slightly, with the index up $14,200 to $7.59 million.

MR

The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa index firmed again this week, albeit not to any great magnitude, from WS550 to WS557. This took the Baltic TCE for the run to $64,200/day round trip. On the UK-Continent, MRs continue to crawl along the floor. TC2 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic Coast is still pricing at about the WS100 mark and the Baltic TCE for the round trip is now at -$6,100/day. The TC14 38kt US Gulf/UK-Continent index jumped this week off the back of an activity boost, moving the freight rate marker to WS250 (+29). The Baltic round trip TCE for the run is now at $25,500/day. The Caribbean voyage on TC21, 38kt US Gulf/Caribbean followed suit and is currently pegged $146,000 higher at $791,000. The corresponding TCE is now at $21,500/day on Baltic description. The MR Atlantic Triangulation Basket TCE settled the week up $3149 at $27,444/day.

Handymax

In the Mediterranean, Handymax rates remain unaltered this week. The TC6 30kt Cross-Mediterranean index is still at WS165.00 generating a Baltic TCE of $6,800/day. The TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent dropped a point to WS179 this week, taking returns to $6,400/day on Baltic description.

VLCC

The rate for the TD3C route (270,000 mt Middle East Gulf to China) increased further this week with assessments rising from WS631.67 last Friday to WS677.22 on Thursday. This gives a daily round-trip TCE of just under $704,000 for the standard Baltic VLCC. TD34 (Gulf of Oman/China) was 42 points higher than a week ago at WS272.5, meaning a round-trip TCE of over $261,800/day.

In the Atlantic market, the rate for the 260,000 mt West Africa to China route (TD15) also strengthened, gaining 33 points to WS236.88, giving a round voyage TCE of about $210,600/day, while the US Gulf to China route (TD22) made a dramatic rise of over $3.6 million to just under $28,000,000, which gives a daily round trip TCE of just over $196,200.

Suezmax

The rate for the 130,000 mt Nigeria/UK Continent voyage (TD20) rose two points to WS214.72, which translates into a daily round-trip TCE of about $94,200. The TD27 route (Guyana to UK Continent basis 130,000mt) slipped a point to about WS210, giving a daily round trip TCE of just over $93,000. The 145,000 mt USG/UKC (TD33) regained three points to over WS185, which gives a round-trip TCE of just under $94,700/day. In the Black Sea, the ‘calming’ effect has continued. For the TD6 route of 135,000 mt CPC/Augusta, the rate has tumbled 103 points to WS285.67, which still shows a very healthy daily round-trip TCE of just over $180,500.

Aframax

In the North Sea, the rate for the 80,000 mt Cross-UK Continent route (TD7) eased five points to the WS205 level, showing a daily round-trip TCE of about $93,400 basis Hound Point to Wilhelmshaven.

In the Mediterranean, the rate for 80,000mt Cross-Mediterranean (TD19) dropped 43 points to WS222.5, basis Ceyhan to Lavera this shows a daily round trip TCE of $56,362.

Across the Atlantic, the owners have regained a little control of the market. The 70,000mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf route (TD26) rose 25 points to WS234, giving a daily round-trip TCE of $48,167 while the 70,000 mt Covenas/US Gulf route (TD9) gained almost 24 points to WS227, translating into a daily round trip TCE of about $48,600.

The rate for the transatlantic route of 70,000 mt US Gulf/UK Continent (TD25) improved by over 17 points this week, to the WS235 level, which gives a round trip TCE basis Houston/Rotterdam of almost $49,500.

On the Vancouver exports, the TD28 (80,000 mt crude oil Vancouver to China) rose by over $133,000 to $3,250,000 (giving a round trip TCE of just under $44,700/day) while TD29 (80,000 mt crude oil Vancouver to Pacific Area Lightering point off the USWC) gained 11 points to WS263.

Source: Baltic Exchange