Platts to launch Med-Black Sea Handysize Clean tanker assessments Oct 1

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will launch a daily clean tanker freight assessment for a 30,000 mt cargo carried on a Handysize vessel on the Mediterranean-Black Sea route, effective Oct. 1, 2025.

Platts initially proposed the above launch in a subscriber note published Aug. 20 here.

Following market feedback, Platts has recognized a need for a freight rate for Handysize tankers transporting refined products from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, driven by increased activity levels and evolving transportation routes within the two basins.

Data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea indicate that northbound refined product flows from the Mediterranean basin to the Black Sea have increased steadily in recent years, reaching 4.9 million mt in 2024, a 26% rise from 2023 levels and a 130% increase compared to 2022.

Platts understands this sustained growth to be indicative of a structural shift in regional trade flows.

The main routes for the assessment will be:

The new clean tanker freight assessments will reflect spot freight rates for Handysize tankers carrying refined product cargo in lumpsum values and $/mt at 1630 London close. The assessment will follow London publishing schedule.

The assessments will be published in the Platts Clean Tankerwire, Platts Clean Tankerwire Monthly and on the Platts Shipping Alert and Platts Tanker Alert pages.

Please send all comments or questions to tankers@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available to the public upon request.