The Baltic Briefing has issued the tanker report for the 10th week of this year. The report dated 11th March 2022 provides valuable insight into this week’s tanker market dealings, freight rates, and charter activities.
Clean
The BCTI ticked over the 1000 mark this week as CPP tanker freight continued to climb on the majority of sectors. Extreme bunker prices are, however, putting a dampener on owners’ returns.
Middle East Gulf
In the Middle East Gulf, the LR2s have been the hot topic. Reports of a steady flow of naphtha stems from the region, assisting TC1 to rise to WS194.29 (+42.15). The LR1s have been hot on the heels of their bigger sisters and TC5 55k Middle East Gulf / Japan has seen a 22.5 point jump to WS202.14.
UK Continent
On a voyage west to the UK Continent, TC8 has also leaped again from $2.65m to $3.22m this week. The MRs of TC17 jumped twice, firstly from WS230 to WS260, before plateauing.
Then a widely reported options voyage paying WS272.5 to East Africa looks to have played a factor in the index arriving at WS271.67 at the time of writing.
West of Suez
West of Suez, on the LR2s TC15 80k Mediterranean / Japan has been stable at $3.2m all week.
UK-Continent, MR
The LR1s, TC16 60k Amsterdam / Offshore Lomé, peaked at WS155 midweek then resettled back at WS150.71. On the UK-Continent, MR freight saw a 15.83 point improvement on a TC2 run transatlantic to WS185 and similarly on TC19 +12.5 points WS192.14.
Freight levels picked up again for the USG MR’s this week. TC14 38k US Gulf / UK-Continent rose to WS 198.21 (+WS21.07) and TC18 the MR US Gulf / Brazil run hopped up to WS239.29 (+20.72).
Baltic Handymax
Baltic Handymax vessels have fluctuated up and down this week, which is a side effect of the conflict in Ukraine, therefore creating uncertainty in the region at present and resulting in a multi-tiered market.
The Mediterranean
TC9 currently sits at WS370. In the Mediterranean, TC6 30kt Skikda / Lavera has held stable on dropping a modest three points to WS281.38.
VLCC
As market participants adjust to the continuing situation in Ukraine, rates have fallen this week. However, the challenges for owners is made worse by the extreme bunker prices affecting the timecharter equivalents.
280,000mt Middle East Gulf/USG
For 280,000mt Middle East Gulf/USG (via Cape of Good Hope) the latest assessment is two points lower at WS22.5.
270,000mt Middle East Gulf/China market
In the 270,000mt Middle East Gulf/China market, rates dropped six points to WS46.5 level (a round trip TCE of minus $15,300 per day).
260,000mt West Africa/China
In the Atlantic region, the 260,000mt West Africa/China route fell five points to WS45.5 level (minus $15,200 per day round-trip TCE), with the only reported fixture being a BP-operated VLCC to Exxon for a West Africa to India trip at WS48 at the beginning of the week.
270,000mt US Gulf/China
The 270,000mt US Gulf/China route has lost $437,500 since last week and is now valued at $5.425m (a round-trip TCE of minus $17,600 per day). However, there are reports overnight of $5.5m being on subjects for a trip to Korea.
Suezmax
135,000mt Black Sea/Augusta
The 135,000mt Black Sea/Augusta route jumped down 31 points to WS257 (a round-trip TCE of $112,900 per day).
130,000mt Nigeria/UKC
Rates for 130,000mt Nigeria/UKC continued their tumble, losing another nine points this week to WS80 (a round-trip TCE of minus $9,300 per day).
140,000mt Basrah/West Mediterranean
For the 140,000mt Basrah/West Mediterranean route, charterers have managed to claw back seven points and the market is now assessed at WS48.5
Aframax
80,000mt Ceyhan/Mediterranean
The 80,000mt Ceyhan/Mediterranean market dropped 91 points to just below the WS140 level (a round-trip TCE of $6,500 per day).
80,000mt Hound Point/UKC
In Northern Europe, the rate for 80,000mt Hound Point/UKC has settled back down to WS135 (a round-trip TCE of minus $2,000 per day) – a drop of 81 points for the week.
100,000mt Baltic/UKC
Meanwhile, rates for the Russian loading route of 100,000mt Baltic/UKC have rocketed a further 63 points to just below WS570 (a round-trip TCE of $253,100 per day) on the back of the very restricted number of vessels able – and willing – to load in Russia, discharge in Europe and that are ice-region suitable.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the market slid further downwards.
70,000mt EC Mexico/US Gulf
A 70,000mt EC Mexico/US Gulf has fallen three points to WS160 (a round-trip TCE of $3,700 per day).
70,000mt Caribbean/US Gulf
Similarly, 70,000mt Caribbean/US Gulf rates fell three points to the WS152.5 level (a round-trip TCE of $849 per day).
70,000mt US Gulf/UK Continent
For the transatlantic route, the rate for 70,000mt US Gulf/UK Continent fell 15 points to WS137 (minus $2,000 per day round-tip TCE, or a slightly more positive figure basis one-way economics).
