August 30, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 5, 1427

2LONDON, Aug 29: Crude oil freight rates across major export routes fell across the board on Tuesday after slow trade, shipping brokers said. Brokers partly blamed the lack of activity on oil traders travelling to Singapore this week for the annual Asia-Pacific Petroleum Conference. They said that oil traders could delay chartering until after the event.

The Baltic Exchange's Dirty Tanker Index fell 57 points to 1,517 with all routes but one turning negative.

Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) rates on the benchmark Gulf to Japan and Gulf to Singapore routes eased at least four world scale points to W120 and W124.50, respectively. VLCC voyages to the US also fell four points to W95.50.—Reuters