Balance-sheet boosting is paying off for Odfjell, as demand outstrips its vessel supply.

The Norwegian chemical carrier owner said demand is growing faster than the number of ships it has available, and "will continue to do so in the coming years", according to chief executive Kristian Morch.

"The fundamentals strongly suggest that 2019 marked the end of a decade with historically rough markets, but the emergence of unforeseen events like Covid-19 and its potential effects on the world economy could have a significant impact on the demand picture for a period of time," he added in the company's annual report.