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Singapore-based operator Yujin International Ltd has said that it will be focussing on protecting its bunker tanker business after announcing that earnings for the year to 31 December 2009 are expected to be below market expectations.

The company said that it has seen a recent unexpected decrease in demand for the transport of cargo in the Asia Pacific region, which has also impacted fellow operators.

Rising bunker fuel costs and the arrival of new tankers in the region have excerbated the situation and led to a decrease in revenues for Yujin's coastal tankering business.

Yujin added that it was difficult to tell when revenues would begin to increase again.

Despite the lower-than-expected results, the company's bunker tanker business has remained resilient. Four of its seven tankers are currently deployed to this sector on fixed term charters (three until Q2 2011 and one until February 2010) and are reported to be performing in line with management and market expectations.

Yujin said it will now be focusing on protecting its bunker tanker business, but despite company's strong performance in the bunker tanker business, the negative impact of the downturn in the regional tankering business would be enough to push Yujin’s full year earnings below market expectations, the company said in astatement.

The Yujin Group operates the following fleet of owned and chartered tankers, according to the company's website.

Reliance	D.P.P Tanker	4,100dwt
Gallant	D.P.P Tanker	4,600dwt
Ruby Star	D.P.P Tanker	4,280dwt
Ruby Express	D.P.P Tanker	4,280dwt
Team Bee	Oil/Chem Tanker	4,998dwt
Arcturus	Asphalt Carrier	4,999dwt
Intan Premier	Oil/Chem Tanker	11,000dwt

[Pictured: Reliance tanker]