TANKER MARKET

摘要

Crude tanker markets remained weak in February, with earnings even lower on most of the main routes, with below OPEX levels a common feature. Trade continued to be hampered by the reduced Middle Eastern cargo volumes, with OPEC crude output at a 10-month low in February due to maintenance at fields in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and ongoing declines in Venezuela, according to Bloomberg. Upcoming peak refinery maintenance in Asia in March/April has also weighed on import demand. Caribbean markets however, gained some support from weather delays. A talking point in the market was the start of crude exports from LOOP terminal, as the first VLCC to be fully loaded at a US port headed for Asia. In contrast, LRs were the bright spot, with rates rising from mid-February on increased eastbound and short-haul activity.