Middle East tensions and sanctions sustain market risk premium
Sanctions enforcement and trade policy shifts reshape global shipping flows Oil prices lifted by rising regional tensionsGeopolitical developments remained central during February. Brent crude was lifted to a six-month high near USD 72 per barrel as tensions involving Iran intensified and the United States signalled a compressed timeline for nuclear negotiations. The move reinforced the […]
Export momentum supports utilisation amid evolving policy backdrop
Export-led demand continues to absorb fleet growth Chinese exports remain the primary demand engineThe PCTC segment remained resilient through February, with utilisation supported primarily by strong Chinese vehicle export activity. Owners continued to report solid contract coverage across key routes, reinforcing China’s position as the dominant marginal supplier of seaborne vehicle volumes. Fleet growth largely […]
Firm market supported by healthy export volumes and tight availability
Tonne-mile growth and tight vessel supply sustain constructive VLGC outlook Early month strength driven by Atlantic tightnessThe VLGC market remained firm through February, supported by tight vessel availability in the Atlantic basin and congestion-related delays. Fixing activity and fleet deployment patterns pointed to healthy utilisation across the segment. Improved fixtures support sentimentMarket activity improved as […]
Oil at six-month highs, US-Iran tensions and a tight tanker market: big-picture implications
Nuclear talks, US tariffs & rising Middle East risk reinforce firm tanker markets Geopolitical risk returns but fundamentals remain the core driverUS–Iran tensions moved back into focus during February, reintroducing a geopolitical risk premium to crude markets. Brent approached USD 72 per barrel, a six-month high. While physical flows remain largely unaffected, freight markets reacted […]
EMF operating fleet map
See where the EMF vessels are going at this very moment Freeport Star: Currently located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Enroute from Houston, USA to Tranmere, Liverpool, UK, ETA 3 February. Tranmere, one of the UK’s largest petroleum storage and pipeline distribution terminals, functions more like energy infrastructure than a traditional port. Stavanger Star: Currently […]
Second Suezmax Pair sale to Okeanis Eco Tankers completed
EMF Suezmaxes sold to record price of USD 99.3M each European Maritime Finance (EMF), together with Atlas Maritime Ltd., has completed the sale of two Suezmax newbuildings to Okeanis Eco Tankers at a record price of USD 99.3 million per vessel. The vessels, Arctic Star and Tromsø Star, are 157,000 dwt and are currently under […]
Ammonia moves from ambition toward early commercial readiness
The transition towards decarbonisation is already taking shape January highlighted tangible progress behind ammonia as a future marine fuel, with developments increasingly focused on execution rather than concept validation. Norway remains a clear frontrunner, with ENOVA-backed funding supporting ammonia bunkering infrastructure and ammonia-fuelled vessels in parallel. This coordinated approach, aligning fuel availability with vessel demand, […]
Sanctions, enforcement and instability reshape global oil trade
Venezuela shifts toward compliant trade channels Venezuela remained a central theme throughout January, with the narrative shifting as crude exports began moving back into compliant trade channels under US oversight. Licensed traders have started routing Venezuelan barrels openly toward the United States and Caribbean, marking a structural change in how these volumes are marketed and […]
Export-led growth sustains utilisation despite seasonal headwinds
Chinese vehicle exports remain the core demand driver PCTC markets were supported throughout January by continued strength in Chinese vehicle exports, which remain the single most important structural driver for global car carrier demand. China’s exports of cars and vans increased by more than 20% year on year in 2025, driven primarily by rapid growth […]
Earnings supported by tight supply, longer routes and structural trade growth
Atlantic tightness drives strong January performance VLGC markets delivered a strong performance through most of January, with spot earnings reaching their highest levels since late summer. Rates were primarily supported by tight tonnage availability in the Atlantic Basin, where active Middle East and US Gulf fixing reduced prompt supply. Canal constraints continue to support tonne-milesPersistently […]
