Cross-Med aframax rates have raced up by one third to $55,800 daily on Tuesday, according to data from Clarksons Capital Markets analyst Omar Nokta.

EA Gibson says the aframax market was steady in the region when the weather came in and closed some ports, affecting itineraries and tightening the tonnage list.

“The Med market was poised and didn’t need a lot to light the fuse,” Gibson said.