TradeWinds: Shipping rates hit second successive record amid historic tanker rally

September 21, 2026

Analysts at Poten & Partners said the tanker market is benefiting from the current situation in the Gulf.

“The escalating conflict has created more risks, uncertainties and dislocations in the market and spiked freight rates to unprecedented levels,” Poten analyst Erik Broekhuizen said.

Broekhuizen added that the VLCC shuttle trade, organised by the Emiratis to move oil from inside the Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is the only way for Middle East exporters to get at least some of their oil to market.

“Obviously, this shuttle service is not as efficient as loading the oil in the Gulf and transporting it directly to importers. It remains a workaround that requires a lot more ships,” the analyst said.

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