Tradewinds: Shell Reigns

“Shell has maintained its position as the top global spot charterer for clean petroleum products, according to data from Poten.  ‘Spot fixture activity for clean petroleum products last year picked up noticeably over the level seen in 2008.  Between these years, market activity captured by reported spot fixtures rose from 2008’s level of 4,913 by nearly 16%,’ Poten said.  ‘Hence, while overall demand for oil dropped in 2009, it seems more refined petroleum products were moved between the world’s ports on spot vessels; with the bulk of the growth reportedly loading in the Middle and Far Eastern zones’…..Poten also noted that a number of suezman spot market fixtures appeared in 2009, as opposed to none the year before.”