Copenhagen, July 13 - Neftegaz.RU. 2018 has been absolutely horrible for the crude oil tankers with freight rates and the fleet utilisation rate falling to a record low level.
Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) reported this on July 13, 2018.
Crude oil tanker earnings have since records began, never been this bad.
Earnings for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) in the first half of 2018 were as low at USD 6,001 per day on average, with a Suezmax tanker earning USD 10,908 per day and an Aframax making USD 9,614 per day.
All heavily loss-making levels for an industry which needs a much-improved fundamental market balance to lift freight rates above break-even levels into profitable territory.
Having enjoyed a very strong 2015 that saw the highest freight rates for crude oil tankers in seven years, 2016 was a step down, but still profit making.
As the crude oil tanker fleet kept growing faster than demand in 2017, loses returned to the industry, after three profitable years.
BIMCO’s chief shipping analyst Peter Sand comments:2018 has been absolutely horrible for the crude oil tankers with freight rates and the fleet utilisation rate falling to a record low level.
The total crude oil tanker fleet hasn’t grown at all in 2018.
In fact, the VLCC and Aframax fleets specifically haven’t been growing over the past 12 months.
The freight market is severally impacted by very weak demand growth.
Overall, the freight market is oversupplied.
The key to higher earnings lies within a very low fleet growth and a return to normalised demand level.
The sooner the better - but patience is required.
To read this news in Russian.
