Russia/Ukraine conflict: Market implications intensify

Refinery attacks, port disruptions and LNG shifts reinforce strong tanker conditions Ukraine has claimed a strike on Rosneft’s Ryazan refinery, one of Russia’s largest processing sites, with explosions and fire reported at the facility. This follows the recent attack on Novorossiysk, which briefly halted crude loadings at Russia’s main Black Sea export hub before operations […]

Another strong week for tankers – vehicle market holding steady

Trading decreases due to Bahri Week Tanker: Average earnings close to $100k per day markVL earnings reached a five-year high last week at an average of $128,000 per day, supporting another strong week across the tanker market. The strength in the VL segment lifted overall tanker earnings to an average of $97,000 per day. Suezmax […]

Rotterdam positions itself for clean fuel leadership

Europe’s largest port moves closer to commercial ammonia bunkering Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, is taking a leading role in the maritime energy transition, moving closer to commercial ammonia bunkering following a successful pilot earlier this year. The development marks a major step toward establishing a full-scale clean fuel supply chain for global shipping. Large-scale ammonia […]

Strongest year in a decade

Firm demand, realigned trade flows, and record freight rates continue to define the tanker market in 2025 US inventories and output revisionsIn the United States, crude inventories rose by 5.2 million barrels this week, notably above expectations, while gasoline stocks declined. Newly revised data confirmed that US oil output in August was higher than previously […]

Strength across tanker and gas segments

Suezmax gains and Western VLGC momentum support a positive outlook into year-end Tankers: Suezmax gains lead another strong week for tankersTanker earnings remain strong as limited fleet growth and longer trade routes sustain positive momentum across crude segments. Suezmax earnings rose 8% week-on-week to $87,300/day. The LR2 segment has strengthened, supported by sustained switching from […]

What did Trump & Xi Agree on?

One week following the world leaders’ meeting, what has been concluded? What was agreed upon Port fee suspension: Both sides agreed to suspend new port fees and shipping tariffs for one year, easing cost pressures on the global maritime and logistics sectors. China agreed to pause for one year its export restrictions on rare-earth minerals, […]

Global sanctions, trade flows & more

An overview of recent developments and their impacts Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, international sanctions have steadily reshaped global oil trade and tanker activity. The EU’s oil embargo and G7 price-cap framework redirected Russian crude flows away from Europe toward Asia, creating longer-haul voyages and structural changes in vessel utilization that continue to […]

Exceptional week for crude tankers

OPEC+ hikes production in December, LPG segment gains strength following US-China trade truce Tankers: Highest earning week for the crude tanker market in the past 5 yearsThe tanker market experienced its strongest week since April 2020, following the global shutdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. VLCCs had the strongest week within the segment, with earnings […]

One-third of Aframax fleet now blacklisted as sanctions expand

US targets Russian oil majors, prompting shifts in trade flows Roughly one-third of the global Aframax fleet has now been blacklisted as the shadow-sanctioned fleet continues to expand, according to new data from Clarksons. Western nations have added nearly 500 oil tankers to their sanctioned vessel lists so far this year, bringing the total to […]

Trade talks offers hope for US-China relationship and global economy

Optimism for the maritime industry following Trump and Xi’s meeting Last week, China and the US reached an initial consensus on several key trade issues following two days of high-level talks in Kuala Lumpur. The discussions were described as “constructive” and covered a broad range of topics, measures targeting China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, […]