Industry Prepares for Acceleration Beyond 2030
Dual-fuel design underpins long-term competitiveness Shipping executives expect adoption of alternative marine fuels to accelerate after 2030 as stricter emissions rules take effect. Green ammonia is emerging as a leading pathway to deep decarbonisation, and EMF’s vessels are being built with dual-fuel engines that can be converted to run on ammonia once the fuel becomes […]
US and China clash over Russian oil
Shifting trade routes add volatility, but support tanker utilisation The US has signalled that tougher sanctions on Russia will depend on Europe cutting its reliance on Russian energy and shifting toward American exports. The US is pressing Europe to reduce Russian oil imports in favour of American supplies, a shift that could redirect trade flows […]
India set to overtake China in oil demand growth
Near-term impact: Longer voyages and diversified flows Recent forecasts from OPEC+ and Trafigura suggest India’s oil demand growth will outpace China’s as early as in 2025, supported by industrialisation, urbanisation, and rising vehicle ownership. In the near term, this shift is likely to increase long-haul crude shipments from the US, Middle East, and West Africa […]
Floating storage demand signals short-term boost
Inventories push buyers offshore Global oil inventories are forecast to rise sharply in the coming quarters, with the US Energy Information Administration projecting builds of 2.3m barrels per day. If onshore capacity tightens, buyers may again turn to ships for floating storage, echoing dynamics last seen in 2020. At that time, up to 11% of […]
Notable optimism heading into Q4
Tankers: Strong momentum in crude segments Crude tanker markets continued to strengthen, with VLCC earnings rising 36% week-on-week to a two-year high of USD 82,200/day, driven by robust volumes and a tightening tonnage list. Suezmax and Aframax segments also showed resilience, supported by firmer sentiment in the Atlantic basin. Crude markets continue to underpin optimism […]
Rising exports and stronger freight sentiment
OPEC+ extends output growth, supporting Q4 outlook OPEC+’s decision to raise output for a sixth consecutive month highlights a clear shift toward protecting their market share. While October’s 137,000 bpd increase is small in isolation, cumulative hikes since April now exceed 2m bpd and are beginning to filter into global trade. Middle East exports rose […]
US pressures Europe on Russian energy
Washington links tougher sanctions to EU reliance on US exports Senior Trump administration officials signalled that the US is prepared to expand sanctions on Russia but only if Europe reduces its reliance on Russian energy. US officials pressed Europe to replace Russian oil and gas with American exports, framing it as key to weakening Moscow’s […]
Resilient demand and policy support
Strong US sales, Chinese EV momentum, and evolving European regulations The US auto market strengthened in August, with sales up 2.1% year-on-year, led by GM, Ford, and Toyota. Policy also turned supportive, as President Trump signed an order reducing tariffs on Japanese cars from 27.5% to 15%, offering relief to Japan’s automakers. Asia and Europe […]
Tanker strength, optimism in VLGC, and stability in car carriers
Tanker market optimism remains positive Tankers stayed strong this week, supported by firm earnings and healthy demand as supply adjustments from OPEC+ continue to shape trading activity. Sentiment remains positive, with improved utilization across key routes. LPG market maintains momentumLPG activity remained firm over the past week, with VLGC rates holding at elevated levels despite […]
Explaining engine retrofits
What is it, and why is this in focus? With the ongoing focus on a decarbonization of the shipping industry, a major part of the vessels that are constructed today, are built with retrofits, among other things, preparing the vessels to be able to run on other fuel types than conventional grey fuel. But what […]
