UAE to Exit OPEC – Positive for Tanker Demand
The 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, well above its current quota of 3.447 million bpd.

The decision is expected to support higher oil production and export volumes over time. It may also trigger speculation about other members reassessing their participation. Overall, this is likely to benefit tanker demand in the short to medium term, as more oil is produced and shipped to global markets.

Brussels escalates with its most far-reaching sanctions package yet
The EU adopted its twentieth sanctions package on Russia this week, marking a meaningful step beyond previous measures. The package introduces a future ban on Russian oil maritime services, with a large focus on the LNG segment. A further 46 vessels have been sanctioned, tanker sales checks have been introduced to curb dark fleet expansion, and transaction bans have been imposed on entities linked to Russian energy trade. For tanker markets, the cumulative effect is a continued shrinking of the compliant fleet willing to handle Russian cargoes, further distorting trade flows and adding friction to an already dislocated market.