ClarkSea index tops $30,000 per day as trade fragmentation looms

In parallel, planned US port fees on Chinese-related vessels and rapid Chinese counter-measures triggered a scramble to map exposure.

Clarksons estimates 1–3% of the world fleet by number (2–7% by tonnage) could be affected when calling in China, levels that encourage redeployment switching but still introduce near-term disruption and inefficiency.

Segment detail underlines the composite lift: in tankers, average VLCC earnings rose 10% on the week to about US$90,000 per day, with US Gulf routes leading gains as freight on US Gulf–China reached US$12.5M. MR clean earnings jumped 44% to US$25,000 per day on stronger transatlantic activity and firmer US Gulf trades.

In the dry bulk sector, Capesize fleet-weighted spot earnings increased 15% week-on-week to US$27,639 per day as fresh cargoes cleared early-week uncertainty linked to fee exemptions.

In the container ship sector, the SCFI indicator climbed 13% to 1,310 points on transpacific general rate increases and blank sailings, while the container ship time charter index held at a post-Covid high of 198 points, with 1,100–4,200-TEU tonnage tight and larger sizes scarce.

LNG spot rates for modern 174,000-m³ vessels gained 14% to US$24,000 per day, supported by Atlantic requirements.

Supplyside frictions persist with newbuilding orders year-to-date totalling 1,296 ships of 35M gt, running 42% below the 2024 pace, while reported recycling is just 8.4M dwt, 58% under the 10-year average, limiting removal of older tonnage.

Trade fundamentals continue to improve: Clarksons’ monthly global seaborne indicator rose 3% year-on-year in September and is up 0.6% across 2025 to date after stronger Q3 trends.

Taken together, Clarksons’ data depicts firm earnings across key sectors even as regulatory and geopolitical developments point to a more fragmented operating environment and incrementally higher execution risk.

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