Energy News Beat | September 19, 2026 The world’s long-haul crude system is running out of the ships that make it work. Bloomberg reported today that soaring freight costs are already making some distant crude trades uneconomic, with barely any Very Large Crude Carriers left for hire in parts of the market. That shortage is […]
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Gulf shipping traffic effectively stalled this week after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed a “precise hit” with several ballistic missiles on the Saudi-flagged products tanker NCC WAFA (also referred to as Wafaa) in the northern Red Sea off the Yanbu area. The Houthi statement, reported via outlets including Al Bawaba, described a military operation targeting the […]
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Iraq has suspended crude oil loading operations at all its southern export terminals following a drone incident at the Basra (Basrah) terminal complex in the Persian Gulf. The move affects a significant portion of the country’s exports, which normally average around 3.3–3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) via these facilities (with some market commentary citing […]
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China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) is doubling down on Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), signaling strong long-term confidence in global crude oil trade despite short-term market volatility. In a recent Lloyd’s List report, the Chinese shipping giant dismissed a nearly 40% drop in VLCC spot rates since late June 2026 as a temporary distortion, raising […]
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A South Korean-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) is making headlines today as it navigates the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transit by a vessel from the East Asian nation since the onset of the 2026 Iran-related conflict and maritime disruptions. The Universal Winner (IMO 9837602, MMSI 440274000), operated by Seoul-based […]
Continue ReadingMette Frederiksen, head of research and insight at Tankers International, on the future of the VLCC trades. The VLCC market is changing significantly. While the global fleet continues to grow with the introduction of newbuilds, the ageing vessels in operation are losing efficiency, therefore slowing the actual growth of tonnage supply. Adding to this shift […]
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