According to the Baltic Exchange’s Weekly Market Roundups published on April 21, 2023:
CLEAN
LR2
LR2s in the MEG this week saw a quick turnaround and a rapid surge in freight rates. TC1 hopped up 21.25 points to WS178.75 (a round-trip TCE of $45,564 /day). TC20 also shot up, adding $628,000, the index is currently pegged at $4,557,143 after reports of $4,550,000 on subjects.
West of Suez, Mediterranean/East LR2s improved incrementally with TC15 hovering around the $3,550,000 mark all week.
LR1
In the MEG, LR1s have held stable this week. TC5 has remained in the mid WS190s and for a trip West TC8 has held around $3,550,000-3,600,000 level.
On the UK-Continent, TC16 has improved for the second week, climbing 24.64 points to WS202.14 following a flurry of fixing activity during the week and taking the round-trip TCE firmly back up over the $40,000 / day mark to $45,051 /day.
MR
MEG MRs have been steady and poise to move in either direction. The TC17 index has subsequently floated around the WS290-WS300 mark all week.
Up on the UK-Continent activity levels have been notably sedate this week. As a result, the TC2 and TC19 indices have both shed circa 30-35 points and TC2 currently sits at WS283.93 and TC19 at WS233.57.
Over in the Americas, another slower week has seen rates slide again on the MRs. TC14 lost another 16.67 points to WS115 and TC18 came down 19.16 points to WS191.67. On a TC21 trip to the Caribbean the index currently rests at $650,000 (-$137,500) a round trip TCE of $18,624 /day.
Handymax
Mediterranean Handymax vessels saw the TC6 index peak at WS329 midweek only to then return to WS294 after enquiry slowed.
Similarly, on the UK-Continent, the TC23 index leaped up circa 30 WS points to WS250 to then resettle back down at WS242 at time of writing.
VLCC
The VLCC market was weaker this week with rates falling in all areas. The rate for 270,000mt Middle East Gulf to China fell seven points to WS65.32, which translates to a daily round voyage TCE of $47,100 basis the Baltic Exchange’s vessel description.
The rate for 280,000mt Middle East Gulf to US Gulf (via the cape/cape routing) is assessed two points lower at WS44.89.
In the Atlantic market, the rate for 260,000mt West Africa/China dropped 3.5 points to WS66.20 showing a round-trip TCE of $48,700 per day. The rate for 270,000mt US Gulf/China fell over $677,000 to $8,961,111 ($39,500 per day round trip TCE).
Suezmax
The Black Sea and Mediterranean markets have struggled this week with lack of demand leading to general softening of rates alongside little interactions with the Aframax market. A US oil major was reported to have taken a Shell relet earlier in the week for 135,000mt CPC/Med at WS145. With the weakening market, the rate for TD6 is now assessed at WS140.78 (a round-trip TCE of $65,800 per day) - down 17 points week-on-week.
In the Atlantic, owners with ships trading from West Africa have managed to halt the slide in rates, bottoming at WS95 in the first half of the week and are marginally recovering despite the strikes in four major West Africa terminals. With other Atlantic markets showing some signs of life, the rate for 130,000mt Nigeria/Rotterdam now stands at a fraction over WS97.5 (a round-trip TCE of about $36,000 per day). In the Middle East, the rate for 140,000mt Basrah/Lavera eased two points to WS65.
Aframax
In the North Sea market, the rate for the 80,000mt Hound Point/Wilhelmshaven route crashed 35 points to WS128 (a round-trip daily TCE of $33,400).
In the Mediterranean, the rate for 80,000mt Ceyhan/Lavera also had a significant decline, losing 29 points to now be rated at WS147.7 (a daily round trip TCE of $40,600).
Across the Atlantic, the Stateside Aframax market was steadier for the shorter voyages and firmer for the Transatlantic with the majority of owners in position wanting to remain local in order to pick up the expected Transatlantic enquiries.
Some charterers may have already quietly booked tonnage off forward dates. The rate for 70,000mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf was flat at a little over WS133 ($27,300 per day round-trip TCE) and the rate for 70,000mt Covenas/US Gulf slipped one point to WS128 (a daily round-trip TCE of $23,500).
For the Transatlantic route of 70,000mt US Gulf/Rotterdam, the rate firmed almost 12 points to WS151.5 (showing a round trip TCE of $34,300 per day).
