In this series, Argus’ global team of experts explore the intricate, yet powerful connections between the shipping and commodities markets.
Through podcasts, blogs, white papers and more, this series focuses on different markets, themes and regions to give you the very latest insights to understand the weight of freight.
Argus podcast episodes are available on a variety of podcast platforms as well as the Argus Blog, where each episode can be streamed and is provided with a full transcript and related links.
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Argus Freight Market Highlight
This free monthly email includes handpicked industry news, analytical insight, special featured content and key pricing indications, helping to keep you ahead of the global freight market.
Latest blog posts and podcast episodes
09 noviembre 2023
Weight of Freight: More change for Atlantic markets
Atlantic Suezmax and Aframax rates climbed from year-lows to year-highs in a matter of weeks at the end of October on the back of European demand and stretched tonnage supplies. In the background, shifting trade flows and a changing fleet are continuing to remake Atlant...
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English Flete y Transporte Global
23 octubre 2023
Weight of Freight: How long can the Capesize really last?
2023 was a disappointment as far as Capesizes owners were concerned. Many were expecting rates to take off in the second quarter. Instead, they were barely above breakeven levels.
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English Flete y Transporte Global
20 octubre 2023
Weight of Freight: VLGC freight is steering into a volatile winter
This episode explores the drivers behind the ongoing volatility in VLGC freight, where recent moves in rates could be mistaken for an echocardiogram.
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Flete y Transporte English Global
27 septiembre 2023
Weight of Freight: EU ETS compliance will add about 3-4pc to freight bill
Starting next year, the thousands of shippers that carry commodities into, from or between EU ports may notice an additional 3-4pc expense on their freight bills.
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Flete y Transporte English Europe
29 agosto 2023
Weight of Freight: Flight from Russian trade weighs on WTI freight
Despite a recent surge of European demand for US light sweet crude, midsize tanker rates from the US to Europe have declined as the G7 price cap pulls ships from the Russian crude trade.
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Flete y Transporte Global North America Europe FSU
21 agosto 2023
Weight of Freight: Evolving Black Sea freight market
In this podcast, Argus’ crude tanker expert Matt Mitchell discusses the impact of Urals prices breaching the EU/G7-established cap on tanker freight and the result of the drone strikes on Black Sea freight.
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Flete y Transporte English Europe
27 julio 2023
Weight of Freight: How expensive is shipping Russian coal?
Russian coal freight rates have dropped below levels seen in 2022. The market has experienced significant upheaval owing to events of the previous year, but participants have apparently adapted to the new environment. Rates are aligning with global trends, which were ch...
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Flete y Transporte Carbón English Russian
07 julio 2023
Weight of Freight: China may surprise the dry bulk market with stimulus: Arrow Shipbroking Group
This episode explores the recent jump in Atlantic Capesize rates, the possibility of Chinese real estate market stimulus, and the increasing importance of sentiment on the market as dry bulk rates remain lower than anticipated in the second half of 2023.
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Chinese English Global Flete y Transporte
20 junio 2023
Weight of Freight: Panama Canal - The strain to come for the LPG and ammonia fleets
The Panama Canal remains the focal point for conversations about the very large gas carrier (VLGC) market, as it can have a profound impact on freight rates. With more demand for US LPG anticipated, is the Panama Canal set to get even busier?
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GLP/LGN Latin America and Caribbean North America English
22 mayo 2023
Weight of Freight: In for the long haul
It was meant to be a good year for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) — the workhorses of the global tanker market that ferry 2mn barrels of oil at a time, primarily from the Mideast Gulf to China. The easing of Covid-19 restrictions in China was expected to unleash the ...
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English Flete y Transporte Global
16 mayo 2023
Clean tanker rates plunge in May: Is recovery possible amid alternative feedstocks and Russian options?
Alternative feedstocks and a spike in Russian-origin naphtha has pressured clean tanker rates in the Mideast Gulf to move down in May. Are there opportunities for recovery? Is the outlook bleak? Or are volatile rates on the Mideast Gulf to Japan route here to stay?
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Global Flete y Transporte English
02 mayo 2023
Weight of Freight: How expensive is shipping Russian crude?
How much does it cost to move Russian crude and how do the oil price cap and “shadow fleet” influence the sanctions price tag for every barrel?
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Flete y Transporte English Global
26 abril 2023
Weight of Freight: EU demand for US diesel to boost Americas tankers
Higher European demand for US diesel is likely to put upward pressure on Americas clean tanker rates during the second half of this year, as the 5 February EU restrictions on Russian refined product imports forces importers in the region to seek sup...
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Flete y Transporte English Global
17 abril 2023
Weight of Freight: Capesize rates unlikely to receive support from Australian coal
It has been more than two months since the HL Taean left the Australian port of Newcastle for Fangcheng in China. This was the first Capesize vessel loaded with coal to leave Australia for China since the informal Chinese ban on Australian coal. Does this development su...
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English Global Flete y Transporte
20 marzo 2023
Weight of Freight: Will vessel inefficiencies offset the VLGC order book in 2023?
The order book for very large gas carriers (VLGCs) is significant this year, when compared with the number of deliveries over recent years, and there are concerns from the market that the large number of arrivals will depress global freight rates. But there are a few fa...
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English Global Flete y Transporte
14 marzo 2023
Weight of freight: Surge in Chinese crude demand may signal tanker rebound
China’s resurgent appetite for oil following the end of its strict zero-Covid policy is triggering an upcycle for oil tanker freight rates, as demand from the world’s biggest crude importer stretches the global fleet of 2mn bl very large crude carriers (VLCCs)
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Global Flete y Transporte English
07 marzo 2023
Weight of Freight: A Year of Change
The Russia-Ukraine conflict and subsequent US and European embargoes have lengthened oil supply chains, straining the capacity of the global tanker fleet.
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Crudo Flete y Transporte Global English
13 febrero 2023
Weight of Freight: Russian trade flows pressure dirty tanker freight
The shift in trade patterns with the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict has pressured freight rates lower for dirty tankers, as reduced tonne-mile-demand and a lack of Russian volumes shipped on larger vessels has led to a vicious downwards cannibalisation within the ta...
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English Flete y Transporte Global
09 febrero 2023
Weight of Freight: Can the ammonia fleet match growing demand?
There has been plenty of noise over the demand profile of ammonia, both as a commodity and a marine fuel, with the product being touted as the ideal solution in the race to decarbonise shipping. But with all the talk of large demand projects, will there be enough vessel...
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Flete y Transporte English Global
19 enero 2023
Weight of Freight: These 3 factors could spur a crude freight rebound
The tanker chartering rush that pushed crude freight rates to record highs in November 2022 is over, but the question remains: what could cause rates to rebound?
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Flete y Transporte Global English
19 enero 2023
Weight of Freight: Dry bulk ton-miles soar as Europe moves from Russian coal
Last year, the dry bulk trade routes in Europe were reshaped after the European Union and other countries exercised sanctions against Russia. After Russian coal was banned in Europe in August, the ton-miles increased in the region, but it didn`t support the rates for dr...
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Flete y Transporte Global Agriculture Carbón Metales Gas natural/GNL English
16 diciembre 2022
Weight of Freight: Georgia’s IMO rep talks fake registrations
Matthew Mitchell, Market Reporter at Argus sits down with Ivane Abashidze, Georgia's rep to the IMO and Vice Chair to the IMO Legal Commitee as they discuss the IMO's legal committee and some of the issues it deals with including insurance and sanctions.
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English Flete y Transporte Global
13 diciembre 2022
Driving Discussions and the Weight of Freight: Why 2023 will be a year of change for diesel shipping
European distillates’ demand will shape the global flows and the shipping market, which is to become a central element for the supply of Diesel into Europe, particularly from February 2023 onwards, once Russian Diesel is phased out.
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Russian English Flete y Transporte
23 noviembre 2022
Weight of Freight: Coasting through the winter and into 2023?
This latest Weight of Freight podcast episode focuses on the 2023 orderbook, the return of the European refineries, Polish demand and what these could all mean for freight rates.
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English Europe Flete y Transporte GLP/LGN
28 octubre 2022
Weight of Freight: Urals crude seeks outlets under the cover of darkness
Russian charterers have been hunting for alternative ways of exporting crude as EU sanctions loom, and many have started to consider running “dark” — long the key to sanctioned Iran maintaining a presence in the global oil market.
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Crudo Flete y Transporte Global Africa Asia-Pacific Europe FSU Latin America and Caribbean Middle East English
22 junio 2022
Weight of Freight: Euronav breaks down decarbonization for tankers
Euronav’s Head of Fuel Procurement, Rustin Edwards, joins Argus Head of Freight Alex Younevitch
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English Flete y Transporte Global
Want more freight content?
Browse all podcast episodes and blog posts from Argus across the freight and transportation industries, including more past installments from the Weight of Freight series.
Other content and services
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Why Latin America should care about tanker freight’s depression
Clean petroleum products importers in Latin America are heavily exposed to tanker freight volatility. This paper outlines Argus’ expectations for freight rates and how uncertain geopolitical landscapes and tighter orderbooks may easily bring back volatility. -
ARGUS Freight
Argus Freight provides daily freight indexes, news and analysis and is a must-have source of market intelligence for all industry players exposed to seaborne transportation costs. It covers the key trade routes for both clean and dirty tankers, as well as dry bulk and LPG markets. -
ARGUS freight and transportation capabilities
Argus covers freight rates in the tankers, dry bulk and LPG markets, along with pipeline, rail and barge transportation prices and provides the latest insight into the impact of freight on a wide range of commodity markets.