A note from HSBC said: “Whilst it had been expected that tankers would be strong, one suspects nobody recognised it would be this strong.”
Pre-tax profits increased to £20.9 million from £19.2 million, and Clarkson said it would pay the previously deferred 2019 final dividend of 53p per share as an interim dividend on September 21.
It also declared a further interim dividend for 2020 of 25p per share.
The company also said its research business performed strongly as clients sought advice, data and analysis “during a period of high volatility and very different working environments”. But its container shipping arm took a hit due to lower output of components and finished goods from factories.
