Weight of Freight: Rising role on Insurance in maritime
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Key topics covered in the podcast:
- Rising tensions in the Red Sea prompted LR tanker freight rates to spike in early January
- How are rates faring now, and how is insurance moulding freight in the region?
- Impact of Cargo Insurance market
- How ‘The Polar” case ruling limits shipowner’s right to refuse Red Sea voyages
Related news
Freights rise on war risk, pressure coke fob
Freights rise on war risk, pressure coke fob
Washington, 18 June (Argus) — Rising dry bulk freight rates driven by concerns around Israel's attacks on Iran are weighing on fob US Gulf prices for petroleum coke and boosting cfr prices, despite overall weak demand. "Freight [rates] are extremely strong, and this is putting heavy pressure on the fob prices," one trader said. "Freights for the next weeks are crazy." "You have almost a 10pc jump up in freights in the last three trading days," another trader said, as the freight market reacted to Israeli strikes against Iran that began on 13 June, sparking concerns over Middle East oil supply and the possibility of an additional war risk premium on marine insurance. Bunker prices in Fujairah, UAE, the world's third-largest marine fuels hub, have surged . Supramax freight rates from the US Gulf to India, one of the most common routes for petroleum coke, increased by $4-$5/t since last Thursday, while other shorter key routes, like the US Gulf to Turkey, have risen by $2-$3/t, according to multiple coke market participants. The Argus Supramax freight rate from the US Gulf to west coast India rose to $41.45/t on 16 June, up from $38.10/t on 12 June, while the US Gulf to Turkey rate jumped to $27/t from $24.05/t. Freight rates were already rising prior to the start of the conflict. "A month ago, there were a ton of ships in the Gulf, but a lot of those ships have been repositioned," a third trader said. "Vessel supply is not as healthy as it was a month or two ago." The additional concerns around marine insurance and higher bunkers are contributing to a "sugar high" among vessel owners, pushing them to raise offer levels as they feel confident in their positions for the time being, the third trader said. The increase has resulted in a jump in offer prices for US Gulf coke in India, and some deals have been heard done at significantly higher levels than in the latter half of last week. US Gulf coke sales were heard in the $106-$107/t range on a cfr west coast India basis in recent days, up from deals in the $100-$103/t range prior to 13 June. But many traders said these higher levels are not necessarily repeatable, as most large Indian buyers have not raised bids from the low-$100s/t. It is unlikely that Indian buyers will absorb the full increase in freight rates, since many are already adequately covered with fuel inventory, and coal prices are increasingly competitive. This means that sellers will need to lower expectations on an fob US Gulf basis to keep trade flowing. Traders will likely absorb much of the fob price impact, as they are holding most prompt cargoes at the moment. US Gulf high-sulphur supply is fairly tight , which is providing support to fob levels. "The thing is, if you call the refiners and ask for something, either they're not going to have it or it'll be higher" than Argus' last assessment on 11 June of $68/t for US 6.5pc sulphur fob US Gulf coke, the third trader said. "But nothing is netting back to $68 in any market right now when you take the freights into account." High-sulphur supply from Saudi Arabia was also already tight, and the tensions in the region could further disrupt shipments, especially from the Saudi Aramco-TotalEnergies Satorp joint venture 460,000 b/d Jubail refinery, located across from Iran on the country's eastern coast. Shipments from this refinery must move through the strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and the UAE, which some worry Iran could potentially block. Vessel owners are already looking to avoid traveling to this region . By Lauren Masterson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Israel-Iran conflict raises European middle distillates
Israel-Iran conflict raises European middle distillates
London, 18 June (Argus) — The continuing and escalating conflict between Israel and Iran is rallying European jet fuel and diesel values, due to fears of supply tightness. The rise in middle distillate values has outstripped those in crude in the past week, suggesting European jet fuel and diesel markets are pricing in the risk of substantial supply constraint arising from Israeli-Iranian tensions. This has not happened yet, with the conflict in a sixth day. Front-month Ice gasoil futures — the underlying value in Argus' European jet fuel and diesel assessments — settled at $731/t on Tuesday, 17 June, up by $45.75/t on the day. This was the highest settlement since 20 February, and the largest daily increase since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Argus priced cif northwest European jet fuel and fob ARA diesel at $789.75/t and $744.50/t on Tuesday, the highest assessments since January. Refining margins for cif northwest European jet fuel and diesel to North Sea Dated crude were $5.17/bl and $4.07/bl higher on the week, at $22.46/bl and $22.45/bl respectively, at Tuesday's close. This is the widest jet fuel crack in a year and the widest diesel crack since February. Although supply has not yet been affected, freight sources told Argus they expect Additional War Risk Premiums (AWRPs) in the Mideast Gulf to rise sharply in the coming days, which could weigh heavily on arbitrage economics to Europe and dissuade shippers from sending product to the region. Loadings of 10ppm diesel and jet totaled 430,000 b/d and 460,000 b/d respectively from ports in the Mideast Gulf in May, according to Kpler, or 11pc and 28pc of global daily loadings. With much of this heading to European destinations, the prospect for disruption is clear. Prompt supply concerns are also reflected through the difference between front- and second-month Ice gasoil futures contracts. The backwardation structure steepened from $9.75/t on Monday to $15/t at Tuesday close. Backwardation between the second- and third-month contracts stretched to $10/t on Tuesday, the widest since February. This suggests concern that supply issues could persist for several months. Europe was already facing unworkable diesel arbitrages for cargoes loading from east of Suez ports for northwest European destinations. Seasonal European jet fuel demand usually relies on supply from the Middle East, the largest jet fuel exporting region to Europe. By Amaar Khan and George Maher-Bonnett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Контейнерные перевозки через Каспий дешевеют
Контейнерные перевозки через Каспий дешевеют
Riga, 18 June (Argus) — Стоимость транспортировки контейнеров по Транскаспийскому международному транспортному маршруту (ТМТМ) в мае снизилась относительно апреля. В июне цены на транспортировку снизятся в среднем еще на 6%, полагают перевозчики. Перевозки дешевеют третий месяц подряд на фоне возобновления и стабилизации транспортировки контейнеров из Китая по альтернативному маршруту через Красное море. В условиях растущей конкуренции перевозчики вынуждены предлагать более низкие цены на контейнерные поставки по комбинированному маршруту из Китая в Европу через Каспий, — полагают участники рынка. Скорость движения поездов несколько повышается в условиях снижения интенсивности контейнерных поставок, сообщили отраслевые источники. ________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических обзоров рынка транспортировки грузов в странах Каспийского региона и Центральной Азии — в отчете Argus Транспорт Каспия . Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.
AWRP tanker insurance to jump in Mideast Gulf
AWRP tanker insurance to jump in Mideast Gulf
London, 18 June (Argus) — Additional War Risk Premiums (AWRP) in the Mideast Gulf could be set to rise sharply in the coming days in the wake of the Iran-Israel conflict, potentially pushing up freight rates, sources indicated to Argus , as the number of underwriters willing to commit at current levels appears to be shrinking. Offers from underwriters in line with last-done levels are becoming increasingly scarce, sources told Argus , with a number of underwriters now offering at significantly higher premiums. The situation is extremely fluid and even the higher offer levels are expected to climb in the coming days, sources said. One source suggested that tomorrow would be a trigger point to revise AWRP rates upwards for all oil and gas cargoes seeking Mideast Gulf cover and the new level would require "a massive uplift". AWRP cover protects a vessel against any physical loss or damage incurred from war related activities such as missile, drone or mine attacks, as well as capture, seizure or detainment. Although vessels are still able to secure AWRP in line with the standard 0.125pc for the Mideast Gulf before the conflict, participants have indicated that some offers are now at or above 0.2-0.4pc of the insured value of the vessel — hull and machinery value. Offers vary widely depending on the specifics of the vessel or providing insurer but several sources have indicated that some offers are at least 50pc higher than early last week. One source stressed that protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs have not yet made a definitive statement on insurance but there is increased alertness. P&I clubs provide marine protection and indemnity insurance for about 90pc of the world's oceangoing tonnage and are key determiners of the overall policies around marine insurance. AWRP in the Black Sea for a Russian crude cargo on a Suezmax tanker peaked at 1.5pc of the insured value of the ship according to Argus assessments, (around $800,000) in 2022 and 2023 as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Argus estimated that the insured value of a very large crude carrier (VLCC) at around $90mn, and a 0.4pc AWRP would equate to around $360,000. A shipowner could receive up to 50pc of this back as part of a no claims bonus but it remains a substantial extra cost faced by crude exporters from the Mideast Gulf. The Mideast Gulf to Asia-Pacific VLCC rate already jumped to the equivalent of $2.14/bl for Murban crude ($16.35/t or WS70) on 17 June from $1.34/bl ($10.28/t or WS44) on 12 June before the first missile strike on Iran. VLCC tankers carrying crude from the Mideast Gulf is the single largest crude trade in the world and since the start of the current conflict between Israel and Iran the cost of freight has bounced almost to a 2025-high from close to a 2025-low. A higher AWRP would most likely be passed on to charterers, leading to further gains in the spot freight market. There is also the likelihood that some insurers could cease offering cover citing inherent risks. But, higher AWRPs are also an opportunity for insurers to generate higher revenues, albeit with significant risks. By John Ollett, George-Maher Bonnett, and Rithika Krishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
