2025 off to hectic and lucrative start

The tanker market has experienced significant activity in recent weeks, driven by the Trump presidency, sanctions, and geopolitical developments like the recently announced ceasefire in the Middle East. According to Clarksons, Aframax rates in the Far East have surged to $150,000–200,000 per day due to limited tonnage. Recent sanctions have sidelined numerous Aframax vessels that were previously involved in this trade.

U.S. crude exports set to rise – tanker demand to follow

These factors are expected to pull more tonnage from other regions, potentially pushing rates higher. They’re also likely to impact Suezmax rates at some point, as Pareto Securities have noted. Meanwhile, reduced crude supplies from the Middle East have increased demand for U.S. crude, boosting tonne-mile demand for larger tankers as shipping distances grow. These dynamics underscore strong near-term fundamentals for the tanker market.

Source: Clarksons Research, Pareto Securities