Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched four daily clean tanker freight assessments for a 37,000 mt cargo carried on a Medium Range clean tanker on the West Africa-West Africa, West Africa-UK Continent, West Africa-Mediterranean and West Africa-US Atlantic Coast routes, effective Dec. 1, 2025.

Following market feedback, Platts has recognized the need for freight rate assessments for clean tankers transporting refined products from the West Africa region, driven by increased activity levels and evolving transportation routes within the regions. Platts understands this sustained growth to be indicative of a structural shift in regional trade flows.

The new Medium Range clean tanker freight assessments reflect spot freight rates for clean tankers carrying refined product cargo. The West Africa-West Africa route is assessed in lump sum denominated in thousands and $/mt. Following a broad market survey, Platts understands that the predominant WAF-WAF lumpsum trade is based on the Lome-Lagos route. Any information received regarding different loading, discharge ports, cargo size or other specifications may be considered and normalized, where necessary, to align with the standard specifications listed above.

The other three routes — West Africa to the US Atlantic Coast, West Africa to the Mediterranean, and West Africa to the UK Continent — are assessed in Worldscale points and $/mt. The $/mt conversions are calculated using the average of Worldscale flat rates of the basket of routes listed below.

All four assessments are assessed at 16:30 London close, and follow the London publishing schedule.
Source: Platts