VLCC sentiment is firm, underpinned by a tightening prompt list, renewed East of Suez enquiry, and soaring Atlantic Suezmax rates. WAFR-East is on subs at WS 600, up 80 points, and Fujairah-East is edging into the high WS 700s. Next week's activity could push rates back to record levels. Suezmaxes enjoyed a historic week, as WAFR climbed from WS 440 to WS 1,000 for UKCM and WS 900 for East and Guyana reached WS 1,000. CPC rose WS 400 points to WS 900, and USG-East tenders hit USD 26.5 Mn, while East of Suez stayed sideways at WS 725. Among Aframaxes, TD19 firmed to WS 645 on USG support, whereas TD7 sits at WS 410 as North Sea tonnage replenished.
AG LR2 tonnage remains extremely tight and owners are firmly in control, with WS 485 on subs for STS Oman-Japan, around USD 7.6 Mn. Westbound, USD 10 Mn was confirmed for Sikka-West Africa and USD 11 Mn is on subs for Sikka-UKC. Golden Week and Beijing's curbs on Chinese product exports may cool Far East demand. AG LR1s firmed further on a tight list, with unconfirmed talk of WS 550 to WS 600 for naphtha East and around USD 8 Mn westbound. MRs pushed Singapore-Australia to WS 570, which looks close to a ceiling. In Europe, TC2 rose from WS 175 to WS 210 and TC6 from WS 260 to WS 345.