Shipping Markets
Latest Shipping Markets reporting, analysis and industry developments.
Jones Act Waiver Opens US Coastal Trade Opportunities for International Tankers
A temporary Jones Act waiver is altering US coastal tanker flows by allowing foreign-flagged vessels to carry domestic cargoes when qualified US tonnage is unavailable, according to Intermodal. Product tankers are expected to benefit most, while longer West Coast voyages could generate additional ton-mile demand.
28 Aug 2026
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Traffic Edges Higher but Remains Below Recent Average
Visible commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz increased to 10 on Wednesday from eight a day earlier, according to Kpler data, but remained below the 10-day moving average of about 15 vessels.
28 Aug 2026
Container rates rise as carriers tighten transpacific capacity
Drewry’s World Container Index increased for a second consecutive week as capacity cuts lifted transpacific rates, offsetting declines on Asia-Europe routes. Xeneta said prolonged Middle East disruption is also feeding into long-term freight contracts.
28 Aug 2026
Paratus CEO Says Middle East Shipping Risk Has Been Permanently Repriced
Paratus founder and CEO Gus Majed says the Hormuz crisis has permanently changed shipping’s assessment of Middle East risk, affecting war-risk premiums, charter clauses, crew terms and investment in alternative export routes.
27 Aug 2026
Container Shipping Schedule Reliability Falls to 17-Month Low
Global container shipping schedule reliability fell to 56.4% in July 2026, its lowest level since February 2025, according to Sea-Intelligence. Late vessel arrivals averaged 6.06 days behind schedule, while none of the 13 leading carriers tracked achieved a month-on-month improvement.
27 Aug 2026
Russian Urals Crude Freight Rates Surge on Security Risks and Tight Vessel Supply
Tanker freight costs for Russian Urals crude shipments to India rose sharply in August as security concerns, route disruptions and strong vessel demand tightened tonnage availability.
26 Aug 2026
Commodity Vessel Transits Through Strait of Hormuz Fall to Three-Month Low
Only two tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, marking the lowest daily commodity-vessel count since early May, according to shipping data. The tally was well below the 10-day average of 14 transits.
26 Aug 2026
Vessel-tracking data challenges US estimate of Middle East oil exports
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says oil flows from the Middle East have recovered to about 15 million barrels per day, including almost 9 million bpd through the Strait of Hormuz. However, figures from Kpler and LSEG Oil Research indicate substantially lower export volumes.
25 Aug 2026
US Hormuz Oil-Flow Claims Exceed Levels Shown by Commercial Tracking
US officials say military-assisted operations moved more than 15 million barrels through the Strait of Hormuz in one day, but commercial vessel-tracking services continue to report sharply reduced traffic and say the claimed volumes cannot yet be independently verified.
24 Aug 2026
Middle East Shipping Markets Price in Prolonged Hormuz Disruption
Maritime markets are preparing for extended disruption as conflict, vessel attacks and limited tracking data reshape Middle East trade. Tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz have declined, while owners pursue differing strategies on routes, transfers and regional deployment.
22 Aug 2026
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Traffic Slows Amid Reopening Uncertainty
Commodity vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz declined as shipowners remained cautious over the waterway’s status. Kpler recorded six crossings on Tuesday, while traffic through Bab el-Mandeb increased despite a declared blockade.
22 Aug 2026
Commodity Ship Traffic Slows Through Strait of Hormuz
Seven commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, half the previous day’s total, according to Kpler data. No very large crude carriers or LNG tankers were recorded, while traffic also eased at the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
22 Aug 2026
European CSOV Market Stays Tight as Project and Newbuild Delays Lift Rates
European C/SOV availability remains constrained, with spot fixtures exceeding €60,000 per day as offshore wind construction delays extend vessel requirements. A record delivery programme will add supply through 2027, while weaker prospects in parts of Asia could redirect tonnage to Europe or alternative work.
21 Aug 2026
Covert Hormuz Oil Shuttle Trade Helps Contain Global Crude Prices
Middle Eastern producers are moving more than an estimated 4 million barrels per day through covert shuttle operations in the Strait of Hormuz, supporting global supply and helping keep Brent prices below levels feared at the start of the Iran conflict.
21 Aug 2026
Strait of Hormuz Ship Traffic Falls to Near Standstill After New Attacks
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz declined sharply after two ADNOC vessels were attacked and Iran continued targeting ships it says are transiting without permission. Ship-tracking data showed no visible crude oil shipments on Friday, while the United States said it could sustain its naval blockade of Iran.
21 Aug 2026
PV GAS Explores Five-Year LNG Supply Tender for Thi Vai Terminal
Vietnam’s state-controlled Petrovietnam Gas is assessing supplier interest in a potential five-year LNG contract covering 250,000 to 450,000 metric tons, with deliveries to the Thi Vai Terminal beginning in January 2027 or later.
20 Aug 2026
Strong Container Demand and Port Congestion Lift Maersk’s 2026 Outlook
Maersk raised its full-year earnings guidance for the second time in 2026 after resilient container demand, higher freight rates and port congestion helped second-quarter EBITDA reach $3.0 billion.
20 Aug 2026
Atlantic strength offsets weaker Capesize market in Baltic weekly review
Dry bulk performance diverged in the week of 18-22 August, as the Capesize market weakened while Atlantic demand supported Panamax, Ultramax/Supramax and Handysize rates, according to the Baltic Exchange.
18 Aug 2026
Strong Container Demand and Freight Rates Prompt Maersk to Raise 2026 Outlook
Maersk has increased its full-year earnings guidance for the second time in 2026 after resilient container demand, strong Chinese exports and port congestion lifted freight rates and second-quarter profitability.
18 Aug 2026
Middle East-China VLCC Earnings Approach $510,000 a Day
Assessed VLCC earnings on the Middle East-to-China crude route have risen to nearly $510,000 a day, their highest level since late June, as Persian Gulf exporters seek additional tonnage amid continuing uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz transits.
18 Aug 2026
Maersk signals shift beyond longstanding containership fleet ceiling
Maersk has indicated that it intends to secure capacity for further growth after its operated fleet moved above the carrier’s previous 4m-4.4m teu range. Analysts expect a mix of newbuildings, chartered tonnage and fleet renewal, while warning of broader overcapacity risks.
18 Aug 2026Strait of Hormuz Shipping Slows Sharply Following Tanker Attacks
Commodity vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply over the weekend after attacks on tankers, while efforts to resolve the conflict between the United States and Iran remained stalled, according to ship-tracking data and regional reports.
18 Aug 2026Dry bulk markets strengthen as tonnage tightens in key regions
Baltic Exchange data for 14-18 August 2023 showed gains across several dry bulk segments. Panamax, Ultramax/Supramax and Handysize markets benefited from healthy demand and tighter vessel availability, while Capesize performance varied between the Pacific and Atlantic.
18 Aug 2026