Korea Lines orders two VLCCs at Hyundai Heavy
South Korean shipping firm Korea Line Corporation (KLC) has placed an order for two new very large crude carriers(VLCC) at country's biggest yard, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and the company will explore further collaborations with the country's shipbuilders. According to Yonhap news agency, the new VLCCs are expected to have been delivered by the 2020. The total amount of the agreement will amount at 185.6 billion won (US$173 million). The carriers, which can hold 300,000 tons of crude oil each, will be used in transporting petroleum for GS-Caltex Corp., the second-largest refiner in South Korea, the report said, quoting Korea Line. The company recently signed a long-term deal with GS-Caltex to ship crude oil.
GS Caltex Buys Rare West African Crude Cargo
GS Caltex to buy 920,000 barrels of West African crude; first West African shipment in almost a year. South Korea's GS Caltex Corp is set to receive its first shipment of West African crude in almost a year as the country looks to diversify supply away from the Middle East. The purchase will help soak up a glut of supply among West African producers, who have been hit as the U.S. shale oil boom curbs demand in what was once their main market and as OPEC Gulf states boost supply. Middle Eastern producers have raised their selling prices to Asia in recent months following solid demand in that region, prompting some buyers to try to broaden their sources of supply, with GS Caltex already turning to Mexico for crude.
Gulf Tanker Rates Fall
Crude tanker rates from the Arabian Gulf to Asia on 2mn-barrel tankers fell to its lowest in more than six weeks as the ships available at the end of August outnumber cargoes, according to a Bloomberg report. In less than a month freight rates for VLCCs reportedly have dropped 40 percent as charterers held back from hiring vessels, allowing a surplus to build up. GS Caltex Corp, South Korea’s second-largest oil refiner, booked a VLCC, Hebei Mountain to load crude on August 23 at WS 62.5, as measured in Worldscale points, shipbrokers including Oslo-based PF Bassoe said in notes to clients. GS Caltex’s rate is 5.5 points, or 8 percent, down from yesterday on the benchmark route to Japan, Bloomberg data show. Transport costs on the route are $1.10 a barrel compared with $1.20.
