News

The duration of the closure of the Hormuz Strait will most likely dictate the outcome of the current crisis and its impact on shipping, the overall supply chain and ultimately global trade. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Xclusiv said that “since late February, the US–Israel confrontation with Iran has moved from a high-risk backdrop …

Drewry AIS showcases several VLGCs that reached or were idling in the Gulf of Oman have altered course towards the USGC as buyers scramble to procure alternative cargoes for the disrupted Middle Eastern LPG supplies. A series of force majeures in the Asian petchem sector are creating serious concerns for the petchem industry and shipping …

Over the past decade, shipping has made major strides in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Hull optimisation, wind-assisted propulsion and digital fuel management are helping vessels burn less energy than ever before. Yet even as ships become cleaner and more efficient, the conditions they operate in are becoming harder and more unpredictable, creating new …

The ship recycling markets have been gearing up for a slowdown, after the outbreak of war in the Middle East. In its latest weekly report, Best Oasis (www.best-oasis.com), a leading cash buyer of ships, said that “the week saw elevated geopolitical activity in the Middle East, particularly surrounding developments involving Iran. Throughout this period, the …

Greek shipping manages some of the most sophisticated and commercially successful fleets in the world. That success, however, has come with an increasingly complex operating environment onboard ships, one that deserves more honest scrutiny than it currently receives. Over the years, the maritime industry has steadily added tasks, procedures and reporting requirements to life onboard. …

Reduced coal demand in China and lower production quotas in Indonesia have weighed on seaborne coal flows. Yet, with restricted oil and gas flows from the Gulf, coal demand will see some support. Global seaborne coal flows fell over 1% in February 2026. Coal flows to China decreased by over 10% in February 2026. Indonesia’s …

Ship owners have kept investing in the newbuilding market, with tankers at the forefront. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa commented that “in the tanker sector, Netherlands’ Ferus Smit booked an order for 2 x 4,500 dwt product carriers for Swedish owner Erik Thun Group. Capacity is 5,000 cbm each and deliveries are …

Over the past decade, shipping has made major strides in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Hull optimisation, wind-assisted propulsion and digital fuel management are helping vessels burn less energy than ever before. Yet even as ships become cleaner and more efficient, the conditions they operate in are becoming harder and more unpredictable, creating new …

Container shipping has less to lose from the Iran conflict compared to other shipping sectors, but it cannot escape disruption and higher costs. It is the latest in a long series of industry disruptions. Container shipping stocks were up on Monday (2 March 2026) following the joint US and Israeli military strikes on Iran that …

Shipping is once again a major component of an escalating global crisis, this time in the Middle East. However, could the markets be pricing in too much geopolitical risk? In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “the latest escalation in the Gulf has triggered one of the most extreme short-term reactions the tanker …