Operations and Oil Tanker Markets:
The International Energy Agency (“IEA”) estimates global oil consumption for the third quarter of 2023 at 102.7 million barrels per day (“b/d”), up 2.5% from the same quarter in 2022. The estimate for global oil consumption for 2023 is 101.9 million b/d, an increase of 2.3% over 2022. OECD demand in 2023 is estimated to remain unchanged at 45.8 million b/d, while non-OECD demand is estimated to increase by 4.1% to 56.0 million b/d.
Global oil production in the third quarter of 2023 was 100.9 million b/d, the same level as the third quarter of 2022. OPEC crude oil production averaged 27.5 million b/d in the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of 0.8 million b/d from the second quarter of 2023, and a decrease of 1.9 million b/d from the third quarter of 2022. Non-OPEC production increased by 1.8 million b/d to 67.8 million b/d in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the third quarter of 2022. Oil production in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2023 increased by 2.7% to 13.0 million b/d compared to the second quarter of 2023 and by 9.8% from the third quarter of 2022.
U.S. refinery throughput increased by 0.6 million b/d to 17.1 million b/d in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2023. U.S. crude oil imports in the third quarter of 2023 decreased by 0.3 million b/d to 6.3 million b/d compared with the third quarter of 2022, with imports from OPEC countries decreasing by 0.1 million b/d and imports from non-OPEC countries decreasing by 0.2 million b/d.
After a record high monthly average crude oil imports of 12.7 b/d in June 2023, China’s monthly average crude oil imports decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2023. China’s imports during the first nine-months of 2023 averaged 11.3 million b/d, an increase of 14.6% from the comparable 2022 period.
Total commercial inventory stocks in the OECD increased by 30 million barrels for crude and 51 million barrels for products in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the third quarter of 2022.
During the third quarter of 2023, the tanker fleet of vessels over 10,000 dwt increased, net of vessels recycled, by 2.8 million dwt as the crude fleet increased by 2.3 million dwt, with VLCCs, Suezmaxes and Aframaxes growing by 0.9 million dwt, 0.3 million dwt and 1.0 million dwt, respectively. The product carrier fleet increased by 0.5 million dwt, with MRs growing 0.5 million dwt. Year-over-year, the size of the tanker fleet increased by 16.6 million dwt with the VLCCs, Suezmaxes, Aframaxes, Panamaxes and MRs increasing by 7.9 million dwt, 1.4 million dwt, 4.3 million dwt, 0.1 million dwt and 3.0 million dwt, respectively.
During the third quarter of 2023, the tanker orderbook increased by 4.5 million dwt overall compared with the second quarter of 2023. The crude tanker orderbook increased by 3.5 million dwt, with a decrease in the Aframax orderbook of 0.9 million dwt, and increases in the VLCC and Suezmax orderbooks of 2.9 million dwt and 1.6 million dwt, respectively, offset by a decrease in the Aframax orderbook of 0.9 million dwt. The product carrier orderbook increased by 0.9 million dwt, with increases in the LR1 and MR sectors of 0.5 million dwt each. Year-over-year, the total tanker orderbook increased by 8.8 million dwt, with VLCC decreasing by 4.4 million dwt and increases in Suezmaxes, Aframaxes, Panamaxes and LR1s of 6.4 million dwt, 3.0 million dwt, 1.2 million dwt and 2.7 million dwt, respectively, offset by a decrease in VLCCs of 4.4 million dwt.
Third quarter 2023 crude tanker rates were somewhat lower than in the first and second quarters of 2023, largely due to OPEC cuts announced in April 2023, although still significantly over 10-year average rates and cash breakeven levels, reflecting the impact of the disruptions in trade flows on tanker demand. Clean product tanker rates remained strong during the quarter. The fourth quarter of 2023 started off strong, led by the VLCCs, with all sectors currently showing improvement.
Update on Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies:
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require the Company to make estimates in the application of its accounting policies based on the best assumptions, judgments and opinions of management. For a description of all of the Company’s material accounting policies, see Note 3, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies,” to