TANKER MARKET

摘要

Crude tanker rates firmed in September and early October with VLCC earnings experiencing the most significant gains; hitting seven-year-highs in the Middle East Gulf. Rates were boosted by improved demand as refineries returned from maintenance and MEG export volumes rose. Meanwhile, ongoing weather and ullage delays in Asia restricted vessel supply. Suezmax rates strengthened over the period with enquiry for voyages to Europe rising. However, the gains could not be maintained as rates slipped from their end-September peak. Aframax rates jumped in European markets, breaking their early-September slump, as activity in both the Baltic and UKC, and Mediterranean increased. In contrast, product tanker dropped across most markets. LR earnings fell to year-to-date lows as Asian naphtha demand softened. MR rates in the Atlantic dropped as cargo enquiry slowed, with a short-lived spike in USG-UKC rates due to an open diesel arbitrage the main highlight. Meanwhile, Asian MR rates have fallen considerably as refinery maintenance in exporting countries and refinery restarts in some importing countries cut trade.