Shipping Daily-05/18/2026

Research evidence excerpt

Shipping Daily-05/18/2026

Shipping Daily

18 MAY 2026

• Spot rates: The week ended on a positive note for VLCCs, with rising TankerAveragespotof keyratesroutes: YesterdayECO - no scrubberchange % Non-ECOYesterday- nochangescrubber% Scrubberpremium

USGoM cargo demand boosting sentiment and rates in the West. Suez- VLCC (TD3_C) USD/day $450 900 -0.2% $443 200 -0.2% $2 000

and aframaxes are sliding though, despite decent WAFR momentum (but SuezmaxAframax (TD20) "" $88$66 300500 0.7%1.8% $84$57 100300 0.7%2.1% $1$800250

very slow North Sea for afra’s). Still quiet in the product tanker space, LR2LR1 "" $120$105 000600 -0.9%-1.3% $115$100 100300 -0.9%-1.4% $800$600

with MRs drifting downwards both East and West – and LRs remaining MR (West) $41 900 0.0% $36 600 0.0% $500

under pressure. Drybulk was strong last week, although there was a MRMarket(East)indicators: Last 6 days " Last$39 price900 1-day-0.3%ch. Week$34 600ago 1-week-0.3%ch. 1-month$500 ch.

slight ‘peakish’ feeling around capesizes in the Pacific on Friday. FFAs Brent oil price USD/bbl $111.1 1.6% $104.2 6.6% 16.3%

are steady this morning, and again we highlight the strength of the WTIOil importoil pricedata Last 6 months " Last$107.4data Month1.9%ago 1-month$98.1 ch. Year9.5%ago 1-yr19.8%ch.

smaller ships at present. VLGCs steady in the West. USChinacrudecrudeoil importsoil imports mill.boe/day" 5.89.4 11.86.5 -10.9%-20.5% 11.75.5 -20.0%4.6%

OPEC oil production " 20.6 21.0 -2.0% 27.3 -24.8%• Lower across the board in the US on Friday. Big tech under pressure and

Nasdaq (-1.5%) underperformed. Futures extending losses over the Drybulk (VLSFO) 6 Lastdays Yesterday change1-day % Week ago change1-week% change1-month%

weekend and Asian markets coming down this morning as well.