Shipping Markets
Latest Shipping Markets reporting, analysis and industry developments.
Frontline and Nereus Suezmax tankers fixed as charterers seek longer terms
Charterers are shifting attention from one-year arrangements towards three-year tanker fixtures, with brokers indicating that longer-term value remains available in the Suezmax market.
15 Oct 2026 · 14:05
Premier Alliance Returns Asia-Europe Service to Red Sea as Freight Rates Slide
Premier Alliance has become the last major liner grouping to return services to the Red Sea, adding pressure to already declining Asia-Europe container freight rates.
10 Oct 2026
US Blockade Leaves Dozens of Iranian Oil Tankers Waiting, UANI Says
At least 50 tankers carrying Iranian oil remain backed up near Iran, while empty vessels are waiting at anchorages across the Indo-Pacific, according to United Against Nuclear Iran.
08 Oct 2026
UANI Says Iran’s Offshore Crude Stockpile Near Malaysia Is Rapidly Declining
Iran’s floating crude inventory near Malaysia may have fallen to about 10 million barrels after an estimated 9 million barrels were transferred during September, according to tracking analysis by United Against Nuclear Iran.
08 Oct 2026
Pan Ocean linked to $109.6m VLCC fixture as Trafigura expands tanker fleet
Pan Ocean has reportedly secured a VLCC fixture valued at $109.6m, according to TradeWinds. The deal emerged a week after Trafigura unveiled an Oslo-bound tanker vehicle.
02 Oct 2026
Surging Freight Costs Stall Venezuelan October Crude Sales
Venezuelan crude sales for October loading have slowed as shipping costs to the US Gulf Coast more than doubled from late August, narrowing the delivered-price advantage against competing Canadian barrels.
27 Sep 2026
Gulf of Oman STS Capacity Tightens as Saudi Crude Exports Shift to Hormuz
Ship-to-ship crude transfer operations off Sohar are facing mounting congestion as Saudi Arabia redirects exports through the Strait of Hormuz, increasing tanker demand, voyage times and freight costs.
27 Sep 2026
Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Pipeline After Drone Attack Amid Red Sea Escalation
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline after an aerial attack, removing a key alternative export route while the Strait of Hormuz remains largely disrupted by war.
15 Sep 2026
US-Iran attacks hit tankers as Strait of Hormuz oil flows fall
Iran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers, marking the largest declared exchange against shipping since the war began. At least one seafarer was killed, while renewed disruption sent Brent crude above $100 a barrel.
11 Sep 2026
Iran and US Escalate Tanker Attacks Around Strait of Hormuz
Iran said it targeted 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after US forces sank five Iranian oil tankers, marking the largest declared exchange of attacks on shipping during the six-month conflict. The escalation pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel.
09 Sep 2026
Hormuz commodity ship traffic falls to lowest level since May after tanker strikes
Commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 10 per day over the latest 10-day period, their lowest level since May, as attacks on tankers sharply increased risks for commercial shipping.
08 Sep 2026
Iranian Crude Exports via Hormuz Near Zero for Seven Weeks
Iran has gone about seven weeks without meaningful crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz, with tracking firms reporting no successful shipments to China since July 14. Loadings fell sharply in August as crude accumulated aboard tankers inside the strait and floating storage in Asia declined.
04 Sep 2026
US Strikes Iran as Tanker Attacks Heighten Hormuz Supply Risks
The United States launched new strikes against Iranian targets after reported attempts to attack commercial shipping, while two supertankers carrying Saudi oil were hit by unknown projectiles as they sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz.
03 Sep 2026
US escalates response as tanker attacks intensify near Strait of Hormuz
The US has struck Iranian state tankers and military infrastructure following attacks on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, while the laden VLCC Senegal Prosperity remains abandoned and listing off Oman.
03 Sep 2026
Two Saudi crude-laden VLCCs reportedly struck near Strait of Hormuz
Two VLCCs carrying Saudi crude were reportedly hit by unknown projectiles minutes apart near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Marisks and Kpler. The incidents came amid continuing restrictions on Gulf energy exports and renewed regional tensions.
02 Sep 2026
European CSOV Rates Stay Elevated as Project and Newbuild Delays Tighten Supply
European CSOV availability remained tight through the summer, with several spot fixtures exceeding €60,000 per day. Delayed offshore wind projects and postponed vessel deliveries supported demand, although record fleet growth and weaker activity in Asia-Pacific could reshape the market.
31 Aug 2026
Port congestion temporarily shields container shipping from capacity shock
Port delays are keeping 2.3m teu of containership capacity out of service, cushioning the market as newbuildings and a gradual return to Suez threaten to release substantial vessel supply.
31 Aug 2026
US-Iran Strikes Renew Security Concerns Around Strait of Hormuz
The US and Iran exchanged attacks for the first time in about a month, renewing concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushing Brent crude above $90 a barrel.
31 Aug 2026
Kpler: Oil shipping adapts as Hormuz restrictions persist after MoU expiry
Oil markets are adjusting to restricted and increasingly opaque shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the 60-day US-Iran Islamabad MoU expired without an agreement or extension, according to Kpler.
31 Aug 2026
Panama Canal Restrictions Raise Container Capacity Concerns
CMA CGM has delayed the introduction of a $150 per TEU low-water surcharge as tighter Panama Canal draught limits and fewer daily transits threaten to reduce effective container shipping capacity.
31 Aug 2026
VLCC Buying Drives 53% Surge in Tanker S&P Activity
Global tanker sale and purchase transactions rose 53% year on year to 365 vessels between January and July 2026, according to Xclusiv Shipbrokers. VLCC and ULCC deals led the market, while demand remained strong for both modern ships and older tonnage.
30 Aug 2026
Strait of Hormuz commodity vessel traffic remains below 10-day average
Preliminary Kpler tracking data showed five commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of 15. Bab el-Mandeb cargo traffic remained broadly stable and close to its recent average.
29 Aug 2026