Rising barrels from the Americas are increasingly moving long-haul to Asia, supporting tonne-mile demand across crude segments

Record exports from the Americas meet strong Asian buying
US crude, also known as dirty, oil exports by tanker have reached a new record high, according to BIMCO, as rising shipments from the US and Venezuela combine with strong Asian demand. The trend aligns with Clarksons data showing US crude exports rising around 13% in 2026 to roughly 4.4 million barrels per day, alongside growth in Brazilian exports. With Middle East flows constrained, a larger share of global crude supply is now loading in the Americas for long-distance buyers in Asia.

A supportive backdrop for crude freight across the fleet
The significance lies in distance as much as volume, since Americas-to-Asia crude typically moves on VLCCs routing around the Cape, which lengthens voyages and lifts tonne-mile demand. Suezmax and Aframax also benefit from the firmer Atlantic activity that accompanies higher exports, with Aframax earnings rising sharply this week. The geographic shift toward American supply reinforces a supportive environment for crude earnings, with the main condition to watch being the price gap that keeps the US-to-Asia trade economic.