UAE exits OPEC and EU tightens the screws on Russia

Two developments this week impacting future energy trade UAE to Exit OPEC – Positive for Tanker DemandThe UAE will exit OPEC/OPEC+ on 1 May, citing national interest and a commitment to meeting market demand. The move follows growing tensions, as the UAE has invested heavily to expand production capacity to 5.0 million bpd by 2027, […]

Hormuz stays closed as market digests week eight of disruption

Tanker earnings ease but remain structurally elevated Tankers: Earnings soften from peak but hold well above 2025 averagesThe crude tanker market softened week-on-week as limited visible cargo activity applied downward pressure across all size classes, though the correction reflects a normalisation from extraordinary levels rather than a structural retreat. Suezmax and Aframax declined to approximately […]

The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked as the US extends ceasefire with Iran ‘indefinitely’

Both sides block the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire As the two-week ceasefire deadline between the US and Iran expired earlier this week, President Donald Trump said the truce agreed to on April 7 would stay in place indefinitely whilst Washington waited for Iran to submit a new peace proposal. Tehran states […]

Continued positivism across our key segments

LPG rate surge driven by Panama Canal-congestion, while tanker demand supported by strong US exports Tanker: Crude tanker markets begin to normalize as Hormuz ceasefire opens path to resumption of Gulf flowsCrude spot rates held broadly stable week-on-week, sustained by continued strong demand for vessels moving crude oil on longer Atlantic routes. Rates for both […]

Tight VLGC supply drives rates to multi-year highs

Panama Canal congestion and longer Cape routings constrain vessel availability, supporting elevated freight markets VLGC freight rates have climbed to their highest levels in roughly 2.5 years, driven by a sharp tightening in available vessel supply. Ongoing congestion at the Panama Canal and elevated transit fees are pushing more ships onto the longer Cape of […]

Hormuz standoff enters critical phase as ceasefire deadline nears

Diplomatic fractures and a hardening blockade keep tanker market risk elevated Talks advance but the strait remains closedThe US and Iran are moving closer to extending a ceasefire and restarting negotiations toward a longer-term peace deal, even as the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz intensifies. The two sides have reached an in-principle agreement to […]

Fuel price shock accelerates EV trade, supporting car carrier demand

Fuel price shock accelerates EV demand while Middle East closures have limited impact on the segment Higher fuel prices drive EV demand, boosting PCTC cargo outlookRising fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict are accelerating consumer interest in electric vehicles, with a direct and measurable impact on PCTC cargo flows. China’s EV and hybrid exports […]

Structural tightness builds as Hormuz flows remain constrained

LPG leads gains as disrupted flows and longer voyages tighten vessel supply Tankers: VLCC earnings rise to $225,000/day as Hormuz blockade keeps East-West rates sharply splitVLCC earnings rose 12% this week to around $225,000/day, but the number tells only part of the story. Ships loading in the Atlantic are earning closer to $130,000/day, while vessels […]

Ammonia transition gains commercial traction as green shipping buildout accelerates

Across engines, vessels, and bunkering infrastructure, ammonia is moving from concept to execution A fuel transition gaining real commercial tractionThe ammonia-as-marine-fuel story has shifted meaningfully in recent months, with several developments confirming that the technology is crossing from pilot stage into early commercial reality. First ammonia dual-fuel engine deliveries are now underway, with established shipowners […]

Trump announces two-week ceasefire subject to Hormuz reopening

Iran agrees to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz A last-minute deal stabilizes the immediate outlook, but the Strait reopens into a highly imbalanced marketFollowing the ceasefire announcement, oil prices reacted sharply, plummeting albeit remaining higher than pre-war levels. According to ship tracker Kpler, there were 187 laden […]