Vitol has reportedly returned to the period charter market to fix a newbuilding suezmax after staying mostly on the sidelines in the past few months.

Brokers said the trading giant chartered the 158,000-dwt Nissos Koufonissi from Kyklades Maritime for nine to 15 months at $23,000 per day.

The prevailing one-year rate for an eco suezmax is $22,000 per day, according to Braemar ACM Shipbroking.