Supply Chain Research

Oil tanker operators may have seen a return to downward rate movements, with the Baltic Dirty Tanker index have fallen 12% in November. While earlier gains mean the fourth quarter on average so far is 26% better than the prior quarter, most tanker management teams are negative on the outlook through the end of next year. The drop in rates compares to a 10% rise in oil prices in the month ahead of OPEC’s extended output cut. As a consequence of the oil price rise bunker fuel costs climbed 9%, and reached levels not seen since mid-2015. If there’s no further change that will raise costs fo...