Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, proposes to launch a daily freight assessment for the Aframax 80,000 metric ton Vancouver-China route Feb. 2, 2026.

Platts recognizes the need for greater transparency into the cost of freight for waterborne crude exports out of Westridge terminal in Vancouver to China.

Spot freight market activity has ramped up significantly since the expansion of Canada’s Trans Mountain Pipeline began commercial operations on May 1, 2024. According to S&P Global Commodities at Sea(opens in a new tab) data, 51.5% of all Aframaxes loading Trans Mountain Pipeline barrels at Westridge terminal since January 2025 discharged in China.

The assessment would reflect the cost of voyages on Aframaxes delivering barrels directly to refineries in Central China, specifically at Zhoushan and Ningbo.

The assessment would reflect freight for ships loading five to 25 days from the day of fixing, in line with common market laycans observed by Platts. The assessment would be published both on a lump sum and $/mt basis.

The assessment would follow the 1330 Houston timestamp and align with both the Houston and Singapore publishing schedules. The assessments would be published in the Platts Dirty Tankerwire, Platts Dirty Tankerwire Monthly and on Platts Shipping Alert and Platts Tanker Alert pages SHP2430, SHP2431, PGT1962 and PGT1963.
Source: Platts