VLCCs Climbing the Record Charts

October 15, 2026

LR2

The TC1 75kt MEG/Japan index decreased by only a single point this week to WS928. The corresponding Baltic round-trip TCE fell by $2,000 to $267,600/day. For the TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent run the index increased by $1.03 million to $18.40 million, corresponding to $281,800/day on Baltic round trip. The TC15 80kt Mediterranean/East index increased by $4.64 million to $13.28 million, with the Baltic round-trip TCE rising by $61,100 to $133,500/day.

LR1

The TC5 55kt MEG/Japan index also decreased by only 8 points this week to WS940, still translating to $192,900/day on Baltic round trip. For a trip westward on TC8 65kt MEG/UK-Continent route saw the index up $49,900 to $12.35 million and the Baltic round-trip TCE return increasing by $600 to $180,800/day.

MR

The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa index decreased by around 11 points this week to WS893 and the TCE fell by $2,700 to $113,400/day. On the UK-Continent, the TC2 37kt ARA/US Atlantic Coast index decreased by 6 points up over WS200 to WS201. Despite this, corresponding Baltic round-trip TCE fell by $1,400 to $13,200/day. In the US Gulf, rates came crashing down late in the week. The TC14 38kt US Gulf/UK-Continent index sank by 95 points to WS285 and the round-trip TCE fell by $19,400 to $32,600/day. The TC21 38kt US Gulf/Caribbean run index decreased from $1.40 million to $932,100 with the corresponding Baltic TCE falling 48% to $29,900/day. The MR Atlantic Triangulation Basket TCE decreased from $64,200/day to $46,300/day.

Handymax

In the Mediterranean, the TC6 30kt Cross-Mediterranean index ultimately increased by only 6 points to WS349 this week after a mid-week jump to WS355. The corresponding Baltic round-trip TCE rose by $1,900 to $59,400/day. The TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent index shed 23 points to WS338 with the route’s TCE falling by $6,700 to $53,600/day.

VLCC

The VLCC rates for the Baltic assessed routes continued to climb this week. TD3C (270,000mt Middle East Gulf to China) climbed 115 points to WS1,318.75, which gives a daily round-trip TCE of $1,412,594 for the standard Baltic VLCC. TD34 (Gulf of Oman/China) rose 62.5 points to WS841.07, giving a round-trip TCE of $912,660/day.

In the Atlantic market, the rate for the 260,000mt West Africa to China route (TD15) improved by 111 points to WS750.63, giving a round-trip TCE of $763,031/day, while the US Gulf to China route (TD22) surged by a further $24.8 million to $79,611,111, which gives a daily round-trip TCE of $637,675.

Suezmax

In the Suezmax sector, the market moved sharply higher across all Baltic routes this week. The rate for the 130,000mt Nigeria/UK Continent voyage (TD20) rose another 103 points to WS981.11 (almost 12% up on last Friday), which translates into a daily round-trip TCE of about $561,600. The TD27 route (Guyana to UK Continent basis 130,000mt) increased by about 129 points to WS961.11 (an increase of over 15% week-on-week), giving a daily round-trip TCE of about $557,200. The 145,000mt USG/UKC (TD33) rose almost 164 points to WS849.44 (about a 24% increase since last Friday), which gives a round-trip TCE of just under $581,000/day.

In the Black Sea, available tonnage remains tight. The rate for the TD6 route of 135,000mt CPC/Augusta increased by 87 points to WS1008.33, which shows a daily round-trip TCE of just over $816,600.

Aframax

In the North Sea, the rate for the 80,000mt Cross-UK Continent route (TD7) strengthened significantly this week, gaining 216 points to WS627.5 (over 50% firmer than a week ago), showing a daily round-trip TCE of just under $526,900 basis Hound Point to Wilhelmshaven.

In the Mediterranean, the rate for 80,000mt Cross-Mediterranean (TD19) continued higher, climbing over 135 points to WS780 (a 21% increase week-on-week). Basis Ceyhan to Lavera this shows a daily round-trip TCE of almost $308,200.

Across the Atlantic, rates continued to strengthen this week. The 70,000mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf route (TD26) climbed steeply by 241 points to close to WS1053 (which is a daily round-trip TCE of over $394,550). The 70,000mt Covenas/US Gulf route (TD9) rose 238 points to almost WS1030, translating into a daily round-trip TCE of over $347,800.

The rate for the transatlantic route of 70,000mt US Gulf/UK Continent (TD25) rose by more than 166 points to the WS955 mark, which gives a round-trip TCE basis Houston/Rotterdam of almost $308,200.

On the Vancouver export routes, rates continued to strengthen. The TD28 route (80,000mt crude oil Vancouver to China) surged over $6.5 million to $15,000,000 (giving a round-trip TCE of $320,700/day) while the TD29 route (80,000mt crude oil Vancouver to Pacific Area Lightering point off the USWC) rose by 300 points to WS814.

Source: Baltic Exchange

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