Russian ESPO Blend oil freight rates hit lowest since January, traders say
Lower rates mean Russian exporters will spend less on freight and earn more for their oil.
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Freight rates on the route have eased to levels of around $2 million-3 million for April-loading cargoes from $4 million-5 million for February and March volumes as more non-sanctioned tankers have joined the ESPO market, they added.
Russia's ESPO Blend oil price fell below the $60 per barrel Western price cap level for the first time ever early in April as the international Brent benchmark plummeted to the lowest levels in years, Reuters calculations based on three trading sources showed.
The price has been changing since then, but remains around the $60 per barrel cap, the traders said.
"ESPO Blend hovers around $60 (per barrel). Higher oil prices and lower freight rates may bring its price back above the cap again", complicating the process of finding a vessel, one of the traders said.
The cost of transporting ESPO Blend to China jumped to $6 million-$7.5 million after U.S. sanctions were placed on vessels involved in Russian oil shipments on January 10, as many vessels working at Kozmino port were targeted.
U.S. sanctions on Russia's oil industry targeted major oil companies Surgutneftegaz and Gazprom Neft, as well as more than 180 vessels.
Before the latest round of U.S. sanctions, shipping oil from Kozmino to ports in northern China used to cost less than $1.5 million. Traders said those levels might be achieved again this year if no additional restrictions on Russian oil transportation emerge.
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