Freight rates rise on Rotterdam-Asia Pacific route

27 November 2009 16:55  [Source: ICIS news]

By Dan Horlock and Florian Neuhof

LONDON (ICIS news)--Freight rates for 2,000 tonne easy chemical shipments from Rotterdam to Taiwan increased by $2/tonne to $88-94/tonne on Friday, as market players confirmed more activity, with cargoes being fixed at higher levels.

“BTX [benzene, toluene, xylene], PX [paraxylene], styrene, EDC [ethylene dichloride], phenol and acetone cargoes were heard moving along the route, prompted by greater Chinese demand,” one broker said.

Odfjell was seen offering 2,000 tonne space at $98/tonne, while Dorval had open tonnage at $80/tonne on a prompt basis, another broker said.

An owner said that 2,000 tonne cargoes would command a rate of $95-100/tonne, although other participants confirmed that a figure of around $90/tonne was more accurate.

The Asia-Pacific to Continent route was also understood to be firming, with 20,000 tonne cargoes heard in the low $50s/tonne, sources said.

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By: Dan Horlock
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