Russian freight rates diverge

摘要

The cost of shipping products from Russian far east terminals fell in early July, but freight rates were higher for tankers loading at far north and northwest ports. Spot tanker rates for 40,000-60,000t products cargoes loading for Asia-Pacifc destinations at Russia's far east ports of Nakhodka and Vanino declined in line with lower time-charter freight rates for medium-size vessels, as well as reduced exports and tanker demand (see table). Product loadings at the Transbunker-Vanino terminal dropped by almost a third on the month to 131,300t in June. Trading company Trafgura chartered two tankers to load Rosneft vacuum gasoil (VGO) last month, according to shipping agents-the 73,900t Conquest to take 48,000t to Zhoushan in China and the 49,500t Green Point delivering 39,800t to the US.