Perez said Petroecuador is even willing to lease its infrastructure, such as pipelines or storage tanks.

One broker suggested a lump sum of up to $4.5 million could be made for an LR2 loading in US Gulf to ship to China, compared with $2.5 million carrying clean products.

"Operators are going to face higher loading prices for their gasoil, as well as, freight cost," a trader said.