The tanker market saw mixed trends, with LR2s stabilizing, softer LR1 and MR rates, while Aframax and Suezmax experienced declines, and VLCCs showed slight improvements with positive market sentiment, reports Baltic Exchange.
LR2
MEG LR2s seem to have found a base, with rates holding on the TC1 (75Kt MEG/Japan) at the WS115-116 level, while rates for the 90kt MEG/UK-Continent TC20 voyage hovered around the $4,000,000 mark. West of Suez, the Mediterranean/East LR2s were somewhat softer, with TC15 index losing a little over $45,500 to $2,848,010.
LR1
In the MEG, LR1s going east did not have the same steadiness as their larger cousins this week. The 55kt MEG/Japan index of TC5 slackened about three points to WS140.63, although the 65kt MEG/UK-Continent of TC8 climbed another $150,000 to $3,442,400 (or $52.96/mt). On the UK-Continent, a 60Kt ARA/West Africa run on TC16 fell eight points to WS119.05.
MR
Rates were softer across all regions this week. The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa shed 10 points to WS195 (showing a daily TCE of $16,549/day round trip). On the UK-Continent MRs the 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic coast of TC2, recent gains were lost, with the rate coming down about 17 points to WS120.74, which gives a Baltic round trip TCE of $9,335/day and the TC19 run (37kt ARA/West Africa) came off 16 points to WS140.
Across the Atlantic, the TC14 (38kt US-Gulf/UK-Continent) route lost another five points to WS148.53 (just over $15,600/day basis a round trip TCE). The 38kt US Gulf/Brazil on TC18 went from WS204.29 to WS198.57 (showing a daily round trip TCE of about $24,100) and the 38kt US-Gulf/Caribbean of TC21 closed $9,000 lower at $625,000 (a daily TCE round trip of $17,797).
Handymax
In the Mediterranean, 30kt Cross Mediterranean (TC6) took another heavy hit, closing 24 points lower than a week ago at WS114.84. In northwest Europe, the TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent added a solitary point to its value, taking it to WS156.45 ($13,760/day round trip TCE).
VLCC
The VLCC market ended the week a little firmer, with sentiment suggesting further gains can be made. Yesterday, Vietnamese charterers took a vessel over 15 years old and ex drydock at WS45 for a trip that is considered as typically freighting at three points less than a China discharge. The 270,000 mt Middle East Gulf to China trip climbed three points week-on-week to WS47.5, which gives a daily round-trip TCE of $24,409 basis the Baltic Exchange’s vessel description.
In the Atlantic market, the rate for 260,000 mt West Africa/China rose 2.5 points to WS51.78 (corresponding to a round voyage TCE of $29,487/day), whilst the rate for 270,000 mt US Gulf/China lost $100,000 to $7,170,000 ($31,565/day round trip TCE).
Suezmax
Suezmaxes in all regions have had a tough week with rates falling. In West Africa the 130,000 mt Nigeria/UK Continent voyage eased three points to WS79.31 (a daily round-trip TCE of $26,524). The TD27 route (Guyana to UK Continent basis 130,000 mt) was assessed on Thursday at WS79.44 down two points for the week, which translates into a daily round trip TCE of $26,282 basis discharge in Rotterdam. In the Mediterranean and Black Sea region, the 135,000 mt CPC/Med route lost ground just falling through the WS80 mark (showing a daily TCE of about $18,100 round-trip). In the Middle East, the rate for 140,000 mt Middle East Gulf to the Mediterranean (via the Suez Canal) was slightly firmer at WS94.44.
Aframax
In the North Sea, the rate for the 80,000mt Cross-UK Continent was 2.5 points softer at WS117.08 (translating to a daily round-trip TCE of $22,622 basis Hound Point to Wilhelmshaven).
In the Mediterranean market the rate for 80,000mt Cross-Mediterranean had 11 points taken away, closing on Thursday at the WS100 level (basis Ceyhan to Lavera showing a daily round trip TCE of $14,900).
Across the Atlantic, the market has found the bottom, for the moment. For 70,000 mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf (TD26) owners maintain at WS100.94 (a daily TCE of $12,300 round trip, about $1,000/day more than a week ago). The same was seen for 70,000mt Covenas/US Gulf (TD9) holding on to the WS100 level (a round-trip TCE of a little over $12,300/day). The rate for the transatlantic route of 70,000 mt US Gulf/UK Continent (TD25) eased three points to WS127.78 (a round trip TCE basis Houston/Rotterdam of $25,428/day, about $300 per day less than a week ago).
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Source: Baltic Exchange
