The Baltic Briefing has issued the tanker report for the 7th week of this year. The report dated 18th February 2022 provides valuable insight into this week’s tanker market dealings, freight rates, and charter activities.
VLCC
There is a continued weakness in the Atlantic and Middle East markets.
Middle East markets
Rates for 280,000mt Middle East Gulf/USG (via Cape of Good Hope) remain at the WS16-16.25 level, while on the 270,000mt Middle East Gulf/China route rates slipped almost a point to WS32 (which shows a round trip TCE of minus $13,100 per day).
Atlantic markets
In the Atlantic region the 260,000mt West Africa/China trip stumbled 1.5 points down to WS32 (a round-trip TCE of minus $12,400 per day), with Unipec reported taking Frontline at this level for a cargo loading 11 March.
The 270,000mt US Gulf/China trip was reported fixed a handful of times this week in the $4.4m-$4.45m range and the market is assessed $206,000 higher than a week ago at $4.425m (a round-trip TCE of minus $8,200 per day).
Suezmax
Rates were flat across the board on the Baltic routes this week with very little activity reported: 130,000mt Nigeria/UKC at WS61.5-62 level (a round-trip TCE of minus $1,200 per day), 135,000mt Black Sea/Augusta route at WS70 (a round-trip TCE of minus $3,700 per day) and 140,000mt Basrah/West Mediterranean at between WS29.5/30.
Aframax
The 80,000mt Ceyhan/Mediterranean market modestly rose a single point to WS98.5 (a round-trip TCE of $3,000 per day).
Northern Europe rates
In Northern Europe the rate for 80,000mt Hound Point/UKC is a point lower than last week at WS96.25 (a round-trip TCE of minus $4,000 per day) while in the 100,000mt Baltic/UKC market the rate remained flat at WS83 (a TCE of $4,400 per day).
Atlantic market
On the other side of the Atlantic, the market continued its ascent with the rate for 70,000mt EC Mexico/US Gulf leading the way at WS162.5-165 region (a round-trip TCE of $24,000 per day), up 12 points week-on-week and for the 70,000mt Caribbean/US Gulf route, the rate was pulled along by the EC Mexico market and firmed 13 points to WS152.5-155 level (a round-trip TCE of $17,000 per day).
Trans-Atlantic route rates
For the trans-Atlantic route the rate for 70,000mt US Gulf/UK Continent having started the week fixing in the low WS120s rose through WS125 then WS132 and has seemingly paused at last done levels of WS135 ($13,100 per day round-tip TCE, which becomes a considerably improved figure basis one-way economics).
Clean
In the Middle East Gulf this week, TC1 demand has been steady for the LR2’s which have remained around WS75. The LR1’s have been holding onto WS95 mark for TC5 55k Middle East Gulf / Japan with more enquiry required going forward if that is to stay.
The active MR’s this week saw TC17 retested back up to WS203.75 (+WS18.33), taking the round trip TCE just over the $10,000/day. West of Suez, the LR2’s, TC15 80k Mediterranean / Japan have seen an incremental improvement this week up to the $1.85m mark.
The LR1s, TC16 60k Amsterdam / Offshore Lomé lost steam through the week after peaking at WS120 are now back down to WS104.29.
UK-Continent
On the UK-Continent, MR activity has dwindled as the week has gone on. TC2 37k UK-Continent / US Atlantic Coast peaked at WS175 mid-week but has now dropped back down to WS167.22, a round trip TCE of $8496/day.
TC19 37k Amsterdam to Lagos has also risen 7.14 points to WS155.71 (a round trip TCE of $8659/day).
Americas
The Americas has been the highlight of the week with both MR routes seeing significant freight rate hikes off the back of bullish sentiment. TC14 38k US Gulf / UK-Continent is now WS 120.71 (+WS23.21) and TC18 38k from US Gulf / Brazil WS 174.29 (+25.36). The MR Atlantic basket TCE rose from $10,228/day to $14,380/day.
Baltic Handymax market
The Baltic Handymax market held flat all this week TC9 30k Baltic / UK-Continent is still WS210 for the moment.
Mediterranean Handymax rates
In the Mediterranean, Handymax rates have been constantly progressive with cargoes being regularly renewed as well as the Black Sea playing a role in driving freight upwards.
TC6 30kt Skikda / Lavera is now up at WS241.25 (+WS46.25) looking as though the market could go either way next week.
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Source: Baltic Exchange
