Tankers: VLCC Market Stages Strong Comeback in International Shipping News 19/01/2026 Clean LR2 MEG LR2 freight rates climbed for the second week on week seeing the assessed TC1 rate for 75kt MEG/Japan rose 34.17 points to WS216. This moved the corresponding TCE up by $10,000 to $53,600/day on Baltic description round trip. A voyage west on TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent also improved this week by $331,000 to $4.65 million. The freight level for the TC15 80kt Mediterranean/East run gently moved up this week to $4.39 million (+$142,000). LR1 MEG LR1’s also firmed this week in line with their large counterparts. The TC5 55kt MEG/Japan index went from WS191 to WS226. A run west on TC8 65kt MEG/UK-Continent ended the week a further $314,000 higher at $3.62 million. On the UK-Continent, LR1 freight held flat again this week. The TC16 60kt ARA/West Africa index remained around the WS150 level or thereabouts. MR MR freight in the MEG rocketed upwards this week. The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa index shot up to WS292 (+55 points). This took the corresponding Baltic TCE to $32,000/day round trip. On the UK-Continent, MR freight climbed modestly this week. The TC2 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic Coast index was assessed 5 points higher than last week at WS121. The Baltic TCE for the round trip subsequently moved up to a little under $7,000/day. In the US Gulf, MRs continued with their strong momentum. The TC14 38kt US Gulf/UK-Continent voyage is currently at WS204 (+15 points) with the Baltic round trip TCE for the run now at $24,400/day. The Caribbean run on TC21, 38kt US-Gulf/Caribbean is also still currently marked at $850,000 (+$28,500). The MR Atlantic Triangulation Basket TCE went from $29,200/day to $32,000/day. Handymax In the Mediterranean, Handymaxes on TC6, 30kt Cross-Mediterranean index rocket back upwards this week to WS222 at time of writing (+68) with the corresponding Baltic TCE up 158% at $31,400/day round trip. The TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent route improved by 16 points to WS167. VLCC The VLCC markets firmly rebounded this week for all the Baltic published routes. The rate for the 270,000 mt Middle East Gulf to China trip (TD3C) rocketed another 34 points to WS112.17 which corresponds to a daily round-trip TCE of $96,338 for the standard Baltic VLCC. In the Atlantic market, which was the main driver, the rate for 260,000mt West Africa-China (TD15) strongly improved by nearly 36 points to WS113.19 giving a round voyage TCE of just over $96,700. The US Gulf to China (TD22) market significantly gained over $4,250,000 to $14,326,778, which means a daily round trip TCE of just under $99,000 however, whether the ships on subjects at this level get fully confirmed remains to be seen. Suezmax In the Suezmax sector, rates have strongly improved in the West and to a lesser degree in the Middle East. The rate for the 130,000 mt Nigeria-UK Continent voyage (TD20) shot up by 33 points to WS166.11 which translates into a daily round-trip TCE of $76,406 while the TD27 route (Guyana to UK Continent basis 130,000 mt) gained 24 points to WS157.89 giving a daily round trip TCE of just over $72,800. The TD6 route of 135,000 mt CPC/Augusta was shocked by the mid-week drone attacks by the Ukrainians on 3 Western controlled Suezmax tankers and as a result the market steeply rose, putting on 64 points since last Friday to WS224.17 (and likely to rise further) meaning a daily TCE of a fraction under $140,000. In the Middle East, the TD23 route of 140,000 mt Middle East