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Quarterly Tanker Market Update: Q4- 2012

Tanker rates 
Crude tanker spot rates improved marginally late in the fourth quarter of 2012 due primarily to seasonal factors. The improvement in rates was particularly noticeable during December when global Suezmax and Aframax spot rates increased to six-month highs. In the Suezmax segment, rates were supported by an increase in cargoes from West Africa as oil production in Nigeria recovered following a series of force majeure related outages. In the Aframax sector, an increase in North Sea oil production and seasonal weather disruptions gave support to Atlantic rates during December. Crude tanker rates have subsequently weakened during the first quarter of 2013 as the start of seasonal refinery maintenance and lower OPEC oil production have weighed on tanker demand.

Long Range 2 (LR2) product tanker rates strengthened to the highest level in three years during the fourth quarter of 2012. A decrease in Iranian liquefied petroleum gas exports due to sanctions forced some Asian petrochemical plants to switch over to naphtha during the fourth quarter, leading to an open West-East naphtha arbitrage and a sharp increase in Western naphtha movements into Asia. An increase in product exports from India and reduced competition from crude tanker newbuildings on the East-West gasoil trade also gave support to LR2 rates during the fourth quarter.

World tanker fleet
The global tanker fleet grew by a net 18.0 million deadweight tonnes (mdwt), or 3.8 percent, during 2012. A total of 32.4 mdwt of tankers delivered into the fleet, down from 40.2 mdwt in 2011, while scrapping and removals increased slightly to 14.5 mdwt from 14.0 mdwt in 2011. Looking ahead to 2013, the Company estimates that tanker deliveries will total approximately 30 mdwt while scrapping is forecast to total approximately 13 mdwt. As a result, the Company estimates net tanker fleet growth of approximately 17 mdwt, or 3.5 percent, in 2013, the lowest level of tanker fleet growth in percentage terms since 2003. Fleet growth during 2013 is expected to be weighted towards the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) and Suezmax sectors with negligible or declining growth in the Aframax and LR2 sectors.

Global economy
Global oil demand is expected to grow by 0.9 million barrels per day (mb/d) during 2013 according to the average of forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Energy Information Administration (EIA) and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This represents the same level of oil demand growth as in 2012, with the non-OECD countries, and China in particular, accounting for the majority of the growth. However, the “call on OPEC” crude is expected to decline by approximately 0.3 mb/d during 2013, which could result in lower tonne-mile demand for crude tankers compared to 2012.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This video and content contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current views with respect to certain future events and performance, including statements regarding: tanker market fundamentals, including the balance of supply and demand in the tanker market, and spot tanker charter rates. The following factors are among those that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and that should be considered in evaluating any such statement: changes in spot market tanker rates; changes in the production of or demand for oil; changes in trading patterns significantly affecting overall vessel tonnage requirements; greater or less than anticipated levels of tanker newbuilding orders or greater or less than expected level of tanker scrapping; changes in applicable industry laws and regulations and the timing of implementation of new laws and regulations; changes in the typical seasonal variations in tanker charter rates and other factors discussed in Teekay Tankers' filings from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and its Reports on Form 6-K for the quarterly periods ended  March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012, September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.