VLCC rates at over 2-month high, tanker demand up
Reuters News
LONDON, April 12 (Reuters) - Crude oil freight rates on major routes were mostly higher on Monday, with rates on voyages from the Middle East hitting their highest in over two months, helped by firm demand and tighter vessel availability.
The world's benchmark Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) export route from the Middle East Gulf to Japan <DFRT-ME-JAP> rose to W97.12 or $57,708 a day from W85.60 or $46,043 a day last week and at its highest since Feb. 3.
"The fixture activity has been stronger than expected and tonnage looks balanced, with the number of stems entering the market over the next weeks indicating that the current rate environment is likely to remain at around $50,000/day," Arctic Securities said in a report.
VLCC rates from the Gulf to the United States <DFRT-ME-USG> were at W67.63 from W56.85 last week -- at the highest since Feb. 2.
"There looks to be a fine enough balance for the first half of May to anticipate that the recent gains will be held for some time to come," broker E.A. Gibson said in a report.
Dahlman Rose & Company estimated 97 VLCCs had been fixed from the Middle East Gulf for loading in April.
"This is the highest total since January 2009 and reflects the much firmer environment we have seen in the tanker market in 2010 compared to the previous year," it said.
"There were 85 bookings for March and last year averaged below 80."
Broker P.F. Bassoe said a "worsening security situation" in the Gulf of Aden, due to piracy attacks, had led to vessels re-routing around Cape of Good Hope rather than using the Suez Canal also leading to lower VLCC availability.
"In sum, owners are holding the upper hand going into the May program and it's up to them to play it skilfully," the broker said.
Baltic Exchange figures showed crude oil tanker rates from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean were at W99.25 from W106.88 last week. Brokers said weaker activity had weighed on rates. Cross Mediterranean tanker rates were at W117.05 from W96.82 last week.
VLCC rates from West Africa to the U.S. Gulf were at W82.98 from W76.81 last week.
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