A pair of MR tanker routes are proving bright spots for an otherwise faltering product tanker market.

While the Baltic Clean Tanker Index continued its 10-day slide, falling 13 points to 857 on Friday, routes from Europe to US East Coast and the Middle East to East Africa saw an improvement to close out the week.

“Continued late-week enquiry against a tonnage list much tighter at the front end caused by the 25+ vessels on subs/concluded so far this week from North-West Europe saw rates rebound,” Howe Robinson said of the Europe to US East Coast jump.