Tonnage hired to transport crude from the Middle East to Asia is commanding $89,600 per day on average, according to Clarkson Capital Markets.

In a client briefing the firm pointed out that this is 15.6% higher than levels seen yesterday and well above the $36,400 average reported 12 months ago.

Erik Nikolai Stavseth of Arctic Securities claims some fixtures have topped the $90,000 mark,  a high the VLCC segment has not achieved since 2008.

“There