While the US and Canada kept their borders closed to most traffic into June oil was flowing from both countries to China where demand for petroleum is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. This saw the US-flagged 193,048-dwt Alaska Navigator and Greek-flagged 164,716-dwt Sofia load oil at Valdez for delivery to several Chinese ports while the 110,295-dwt Mare Oriens, 105,495-dwt Mitera Marigo and 105,346-dwt Maria Princess did the same at Vancouver, British Columbia, with the Canadian crude coming across the Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta.
The petroleum would normally flow to US refineries in Washington and California but depressed consumption caused by state-ordered lockdowns has kept many drivers off the roads and refineries have been cutting back their production.
