Spot aframax earnings have risen to their highest since last June on tight tonnage supply amid buoyant intra-European trades.

The Baltic Exchange assessed average aframax earnings at $15,146 per day on Monday, nearly doubling from $8,378 per day on 8 March and outperforming larger tankers.

Market sources said shipowners managed to hike freight rates more than gains in bunker prices this month, despite easing delays in northern Europe and at the Turkish Straits.