MABUX: Bunker Prices Expected to Retain Fluctuations Next Week
MABUX: Bunker Prices Expected to Retain Fluctuations Next Week
in
International Shipping News
08/05/2026
The global bunker market recorded mixed performance over the week, with price fluctuations remaining significant amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The 380 HSFO index surged by USD 38.13, rising from USD 765.04/MT the previous week to USD 803.17/MT and exceeding the USD 800 threshold. The VLSFO index also posted a strong gain of USD 48.53, increasing from USD 914.02/MT to USD 962.55/MT, steadily approaching the USD 1,000 mark.
Maritime Visibility Collapses as Tensions Escalate Around Hormuz
Maritime Visibility Collapses as Tensions Escalate Around Hormuz
in
International Shipping News
08/05/2026
Operational Overview
Maritime conditions around the Strait of Hormuz are entering a significantly more unstable phase as kinetic attacks, electronic interference, and coercive maritime control converge into a single operating environment.
Since the launch of Project Freedom, commercial shipping has faced simultaneous military, navigational, and compliance pressure. GPS jamming has intensified around Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, AIS visibility has deteriorated sharply, and satellite imagery increasingly shows large concentrations of stationary dark vessels across both sides of the Strait.
At the same time, commercial traffic is becoming more exposed to direct operational pressure. The likely deliberate targeting of HMM NAMU, the detention of MSC FRANCESCA following AIS suppression, IRGC transit warnings over VHF, and coordinated attacks on UAE-linked energy infrastructure all point to
Strait of Hormuz in April: A Stop-Start Recovery Under Persistent Risk
Strait of Hormuz in April: A Stop-Start Recovery Under Persistent Risk
in
International Shipping News
08/05/2026
One month after the Strait of Hormuz ceased to function as an unobstructed passage for commercial shipping, April brought no clear normalization. Instead, vessel activity evolved through a sequence of short-lived recoveries, reversals, and renewed disruptions, shaped by ceasefire announcements, military enforcement actions, and continued security incidents.
Across dry bulk, tanker and gas carrier segments, traffic remained significantly below pre-conflict levels throughout the month. While brief windows of increased activity emerged, these proved fragile, with flows repeatedly resetting in response to geopolitical developments.
At the same time, AIS disruption, irregular vessel behaviour, and the growing presence of sanctioned or opaque operators continued to complicate visibility, making interpretation of underlying flows increasingly dependent on contextual analysis rather
Drewry: World Container Index Up 3% Last Week
Drewry: World Container Index Up 3% Last Week
in
International Shipping News
09/05/2026
For many years, World Container Index (WCI) has been the go-to, independent, global reference for index-linked contracts. If your organisation is considering index-linked contracts or requires regional visibility/coverage beyond the eight trade lanes provided below, contact our ocean freight cost benchmarking team.
Source: Drewry World Container Index, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors
Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 07 May 2026
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) increased 3% to $2,286 per 40ft container after three consecutive weekly declines, driven by higher freight rates on Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade lanes.
On the Transpacific trade route, rates increased this week following the implementation of Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) by carriers. Rates from Shanghai to New York rose 7% to $3,721 per 40ft container, while those from Shanghai to Los Angeles
Iran Detains ‘Ocean Koi’ Tanker Apparently Hauling Iranian Oil
Photo: Shutterstock
Iran Detains ‘Ocean Koi’ Tanker Apparently Hauling Iranian Oil
Bloomberg
Total Views: 0
May 8, 2026
By Patrick Sykes (Bloomberg) — Iran said it seized a tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which appeared to be a sanctioned vessel carrying the Islamic Republic’s own oil.
“During a special operation, naval commandos of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army detained the violating oil tanker Ocean Koi,” state television reported, saying the vessel was “attempting to disrupt oil exports and the interests of the Iranian nation.” The tanker appears to be managed by a Chinese company, according to a shipping database.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said that the tanker was carrying Iranian oil, but that it had sought to “exploit regional conditions,” without elaborating.
Benchmark oil prices in London showed little reaction to the tanker seizure, trading little changed as of 1 p.m. Prices rose earlier after the US and Iran traded fire near the Strait of Hormuz, though Was
Dry Bulk Vessel Crossings In The Strait Falling To Zero
Dry Bulk Vessel Crossings In The Strait Falling To Zero
in
Dry Bulk Market
,
International Shipping News
09/05/2026
F
REIGHT MARKET OVERVIEW
The Baltic Dry Index is approaching the 3,000-point threshold, supported by sustained gains across all major vessel segments, with the Capesize market continuing to lead the rally at +149% year-on-year. Current index levels represent the strongest performance recorded since 2023, reflecting a marked improvement in freight market sentiment, particularly in the Capesize sector, which has driven consistent upward momentum since the end of the first quarter of this year.
The Panamax segment is also demonstrating robust annual growth, with index levels up +57% year-on-year. Meanwhile, positive market fundamentals continue to support the smaller vessel categories, with the Supramax index increasing by +58% year-on-year and the Handysize index by +47% year-on-year.
FREIGHT ATLANTIC
Capesize C3 / Panamax P7 Firmer
C3 | Tubarao to Qingdao | 36.91 $/MT | Da
U.S. Confirms Iranian Attack on U.S. Navy Destroyers in Strait of Hormuz
Navy guided-missile destroyers transit the Strait of Hormuz during heightened tensions with Iran in a photo released by U.S. Navy Destroyers in Strait of Hormuz
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 15828
May 7, 2026
Three U.S. Navy destroyers came under missile, drone and small-boat attack while transiting the
Strait of Hormuz
on Thursday, according to U.S.
Alaska Mega-Tsunami Raises Alarm for Cruise Ships in Glacier Fjords
Aerial photo of the August 10, 2025 landslide captured during a field reconnaissance overflight on August 13, 2025. Look direction is to the west.? USGS Photo
Alaska Mega-Tsunami Raises Alarm for Cruise Ships in Glacier Fjords
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 1
May 8, 2026
A massive landslide in Alaska’s Tracy Arm fjord triggered one of the tallest tsunamis ever recorded, sending water 481 meters—about 1,578 feet—up the opposite wall of the fjord in what scientists are calling a climate-linked near miss for cruise tourism.
The Aug. 10, 2025 event, detailed in a new study published Wednesday in
Science
, began when more than 64 million cubic meters of rock collapsed into the fjord near South Sawyer Glacier, about 80 miles south-southeast of Juneau.
EU Russian Arctic LNG Imports Hit $4.4bn Record Despite Sanctions Measures
(Source: Contributed)
EU Russian Arctic LNG Imports Hit $4.4bn Record Despite Sanctions Measures
Malte Humpert
Total Views: 499
May 8, 2026
European Union imports of Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas from the Yamal LNG project hit a record high in the first four months of 2026, despite the bloc introducing measures intended to curb purchases of Russian fuel.
The EU imported 6.69 million metric tonnes of LNG from the Russian Arctic project between January and April, up 17.2% from the same period a year earlier, according to
analysis of Kpler shipment data published on Friday by environmental group Urgewald
.
The imports represented 98% of all Yamal LNG cargoes that reached a final destination during the period, underscoring Europe’s continuing role as the main market for Russia’s flagship Arctic gas project more than four years after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Urgewald estimated that EU countries paid Russia around 3.88 billion euros ($4.4 billion) for the fuel during the January-
China Confirms Attack on Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Earlier This Week
Tankers are seen off the coast of the Fujairah, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
China Confirms Attack on Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Earlier This Week
Reuters
Total Views: 413
May 8, 2026
By Lewis Jackson and Sam Li
BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that an oil products tanker carrying Chinese crew was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, and expressed deep concern about vessels affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
There are Chinese nationals aboard the vessel, but no reported crew casualties so far, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a regular news conference.
Chinese media Caixin reported on Thursday that a Chinese-owned oil products tanker marked “CHINA OWNER & CREW” was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
The attack happened before a
meeting
between China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi,