Tradewinds: 2010 Clean Fixtures Slide

“Reported clean tanker fixtures fell by over 8% last year on the back of a weaker global economy, a top US broker has said. Poten & Partners said an analysis of the spot fixture volume in 2010 provided a ‘sobering picture of the developed world’s economic health.’ ‘A significant 8.3% contraction in fixtures from 2009 marks a downturn from what had seemed to be a market on the mend from the depths of the 2008 financial crisis,’ it said. While the reported activity represents just a slice of the worldwide fixture volumes, the numbers are undoubtedly underwhelming, the broker said. Shell maintained its position from 2009 as the world’s largest clean charterer by fixture count, despite its market share falling nearly 2%. Vitol continued to close the gap in the second position also representing 6% of overall clean chartering volume in 2010. Other notable changes in the top ten saw Petrobras and Hess finding their way onto the list and the departures of Morgan Stanley and Litasco.”