Ammonia gains traction as shipping moves ahead of regulation

Fuel progress accelerates amid policy uncertainty Momentum around ammonia as a marine fuel continues to build, with several developments this week underscoring a shift from pilot-stage testing to early commercialisation. A consortium including CF Industries, Trafigura and TFG Marine has signed an agreement to develop a global low-carbon ammonia supply chain, spanning production, logistics and […]

Hormuz escalation extends into energy infrastructure

Strikes and vessel attacks drive supply risk as tanker flows stall This week’s key developments 17 March: Israel conducted strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, with U.S. officials stating they had no prior knowledge of the operation.18 March: Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG hub, with QatarEnergy reporting extensive […]

Hormuz disruption persists

Tanker market corrects from extremes Tanker: Market softens due to Hormuz-closureThe crude tanker market has softened week-on-week as owners look to reposition tonnage and charterers exercise increased caution amid persistent Hormuz disruption. VLCC spot earnings fell to approximately USD 180,000 per day (down 38% from last week’s spike), with Suezmax at approximately USD 128,000 per […]

Hormuz closure disrupts car carrier flows

Sources: Clarksons & Hoegh Autoliners Escalating Middle East conflict halts vessel traffic through one of the world’s key automotive trade corridors Security escalation forces effective shutdown of Hormuz transitEscalating conflict in the Middle East has sharply increased risk across global shipping markets, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following the US-Israel strikes on Iran […]

Middle East conflict – Implications for EMF’s shipping markets

Sustained tensions and elevated risk expected for the time ahead The escalation of tensions between the US, Israel and Iran has significantly increased geopolitical risk in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, handling roughly 20% of global oil trade and a […]

Strait of Hormuz closure creates uncertainty in shipping markets

Hormuz disruption creates historic shock to global energy flows Tanker: Historically high rates driven by supply shockThe crude tanker market has surged following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. At one point last week, VLCC earnings reached approximately USD 480,000 per day. While rates have corrected this week, they still remain significantly above […]

Iran conflict pushes tanker rates to highest levels since 2020

Global shipping disrupted as Strait of Hormuz traffic halts Tanker: Middle East escalation drives record freight ratesThe crude tanker market surged following a rapid escalation in tensions between Israel, the US and Iran, which has severely disrupted tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian attacks on tankers and the withdrawal of war risk insurance […]

Tanker markets enter extreme territory

Freight rates surge as Hormuz disruption tightens tanker supply and triggers global market volatility Freight rates surge to historic levelsTanker markets have moved into extreme territory following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Freight rates were already elevated prior to the strikes on Iran, but disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz […]

Iran-US conflict at the crossroads of global trade

Conflict in the Gulf threatens one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, increasing volatility across oil and shipping markets Hormuz disruption raises shipping riskConflict escalated in the Middle East in late February following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory attacks on commercial vessels and maritime infrastructure in […]

Major developments around US tariff policy

Policy reset drives near-term cargo surge, but uncertainty persists The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs has injected fresh volatility into global trade flows, with mixed implications across shipping markets. In the near term, the ruling may prompt a front-loaded surge in US-bound imports as cargo owners move ahead […]