VLCC
Rates remain weak, albeit steady across all sectors. In the Middle East, 280,000mt to USG via the Cape/Cape routing remained at a fraction above WS15, while 270,000mt to China continued to achieve WS26. In the Atlantic, rates for 260,000mt West Africa to China held around the WS29 level and $4.55m region for 270,000mt USG to China.

Suezmax

Rates for 135,000mt Black Sea/Med were maintained at around WS45, while for 130,000mt Nigeria to UK Continent saw a modest two-point gain to between WS32.5 and WS35. In the Middle East market, rates for 140,000mt Basrah/Med improved by about four points to around WS20-22.5 level, with Turkish and Greek charterers fixing at WS20 and a US oil major reported to be replacing a failed WS20 fixture at WS22.5 on an ex drydock vessel.

Aframax

Rates for 80,000mt Ceyhan/Lavera fell back about three points to just over WS61. In Northern Europe rates weakened a couple of points to between WS67.5-70, while 100,000mt Baltic/UKC remained close to WS42. On the other side of the Atlantic, rates for 70,000mt Carib/USGulf are unchanged at WS45, while 70,000mt USG/UKC recovered 2.5 points to around WS44.

Clean

In the Middle East Gulf/Japan trade, rates for 75,000mt are static at WS57.5 level, while the LR1 market regained four points to the WS65 mark. In the 37,000mt UKContinent/USAC market rates continued to slide, settling at around WS67, down around five points from a week ago. The backhaul trade for 38,000ms from US Gulf to UKContinent saw rates dip 2.5 points to WS50, while 38,000mt US Gulf to Brazil remained flat at WS70. The 30,000mt cross-Mediterranean market was unmoved at W77.5 level.
Source: The Baltic Briefing