China’s coronavirus epidemic and rumoured sanctions relief for Cosco Shipping Tanker (Dalian) have weighed on sentiment among VLCC players despite unseasonally high spot earnings.

Average spot earnings for non-scrubber units were assessed by Clarksons Platou Securities at $65,800 per day as of Thursday morning, down from $69,500 a day ago.

For scrubber-fitted VLCCs, earnings dropped to $85,100 per day from $89,300.