Petrobras has fixed two VLCCs on long-term charters at healthy rates as the period charter market cools on the back of reduced floating storage demand.

Market sources said that after talks with tanker owners for period deals this month, Brazil’s state-owned oil firm eventually selected Euronav and Neda Maritime as its counter parties.

Tanker players who followed this business said Euronav’s 314,000-dwt Simone (built 2012) was chartered to Petrobras for two years at $48,500 per day.