Interview: America’s Oil Surge Is Pulling Tankers West — and Reshaping Global Trade
Photo: Shutterstock/Sven Hansche
Interview: America’s Oil Surge Is Pulling Tankers West — and Reshaping Global Trade
Lori Ann LaRocco
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April 22, 2026
The United States continues to export record amounts of oil. black gold shows no signs of lessening. The long line of tankers dotting the ocean shows the incoming demand.
Easterly Clear Ocean has nine chemical tankers participating in this energy boom.
Asian Shipowners to Cross Hormuz Before Western Firms, Executives Say
Luojiashan tanker sits anchored in Muscat, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Asian Shipowners to Cross Hormuz Before Western Firms, Executives Say
Reuters
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April 22, 2026
LAUSANNE, April 22 (Reuters) – Asian ship owners might begin to sail through the
Strait of Hormuz
soon amid a fragile U.S.-Iran
ceasefire
as they have a higher risk tolerance and can manage paying tolls unlike sanctions-complying Western firms, shipping executives said at the FT Commodities Global Summit on Wednesday.
Hundreds of tankers and other ships have been stuck inside the Middle East Gulf unable to cross the strait since the end of February, hitting global oil and liquefied gas supply in the world’s largest ever energy supply disruption.
Some tankers and cargo ships managed to escape the Gulf last Saturday, but Iran quickly pulled the plug on the move by firing shots and telling other vessel
Iran Menaces Hormuz as Its Own Oil Tankers Test US Blockade
Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. REUTERS
Iran Menaces Hormuz as Its Own Oil Tankers Test US Blockade
Bloomberg
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April 22, 2026
By Weilun Soon and Rakteem Katakey (Bloomberg) — Iranian gunboats fired on commercial ships in the
Strait of Hormuz
on Wednesday as Tehran maintained its grip on the vital energy channel, while two of its own oil supertankers tested a US blockade.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations, a naval liaison with the shipping industry, said on X that a cargo ship and a container ship came under fire in the waterway. Meanwhile, analytics firm Vortexa said Iran moved supertankers into the Arabian Sea, an area where the US has sought to block Iranian shipping.Play Video
Iranian state TV reported later that the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had seized two ships — identified as the
MSC Francesca
and
Epaminondas
— in Hormuz and brought them to shore for inspection.
ARA fuel oil stocks decline by 17% in April
ARA fuel oil stocks decline by 17% in April
in
Port News
20/04/2026
The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have fallen by 17% in April so far, according to Insights Global data.
Changes in monthly average ARA stocks from March to April (so far):
Fuel oil stocks down 850,000 bbls to 4.31 million bbls
Gasoil stocks down 970,000 bbls to 15.16 million bbls
At 4.31 million barrels, the region’s fuel oil stocks are below their five-year average.
The ARA hub has imported 241,000 b/d of fuel oil in April thus far, up from March’s 207,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa.
Most supplies have arrived from Venezuela (18%), Sweden (17%) and Mexico (12%).
The region has exported 175,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, down from 184,000 b/d in March.
Most fuel oil cargoes have departed for Singapore (37%), followed by the US and the Bahamas (11% each).
The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have decreased by 6% this month, compar
WAN HAI selects Nippon Paint Marine’s EVERCOOL for container fleet
WAN HAI selects Nippon Paint Marine’s EVERCOOL for container fleet
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Marine coatings leader Nippon Paint Marine today announced that its EVERCOOL heat shield coating has been adopted by WAN HAI Lines following a process of onboard evaluation that confirmed its efficacy. EVERCOOL reduces deck surface temperatures and improves working conditions for crews, even on vessels operating in low latitude regions where solar radiation is high.
Extreme heat exposure is becoming a growing operational challenge for container vessels sailing under strong, direct sunlight. On equatorial and low latitude routes, steel deck structures can experience significant temperature rises, increasing heat loads on adjacent spaces and demanding more energy for cooling key work areas – including navigation bridges.
Crew member applying EVERCOOL coating on deck during onboard trials
To address these conditions, WAN HAI Lines approached Nippon Paint Marine seeking a practical,
NYK Group Establishes New Seafarer Training Center in India Improving Training Efficiency and Enhancing Seafarer Capabilities
NYK Group Establishes New Seafarer Training Center in India Improving Training Efficiency and Enhancing Seafarer Capabilities
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
On April 17, NYK Shipmanagement Pte. (NYKSM), part of the NYK Group, officially opened its new training center in Navi Mumbai, India, and marked the occasion with an inauguration ceremony at the facility.
New Training Center
India is one of the world’s largest contributors of seafarers, who also account for a significant number of crew members serving on vessels operated by the NYK Group. With the opening of this new training center, various training programs previously conducted in Singapore can now be delivered in India.
Korean Crude Tanker Uses Red Sea Detour Amid Risks
Korean Crude Tanker Uses Red Sea Detour Amid Risks
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on April 17 that a Korean vessel loaded with crude oil from Yanbu Port, Saudi Arabia, has safely exited the Red Sea, marking the first instance of crude oil being transported to the country through the Red Sea as a detour route since the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Red Sea is an area of operation for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a group backed by Iran, and the Ministry has been advising vessels to refrain from navigating the region, where approximately 79 attacks on vessels have occurred since the Israel-Hamas armed conflict in October 2023.
During the ‘Report on the Results of Measures Regarding Port Entry via the Hormuz Detour Route’ at the 14th Cabinet Meeting, which also served as the 4th Emergency Economic Review Meeting on the 6th, a plan was discussed to secure the crude oil supply by closely monitoring the safety of our vessels navigati
Peninsula Celebrates 30 Years as a Global Leader in Marine Energy
Peninsula Celebrates 30 Years as a Global Leader in Marine Energy
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Peninsula, the leading independent marine energy supplier, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of growth, innovation, and leadership in the global shipping and energy sectors.
Founded in 1996 as a small marine fuel supplier built on integrity and quality service, Peninsula has transformed into one of the industry’s most trusted partners. Today, the company operates 21 commercial offices and supplies marine fuels across more than 500 ports worldwide. Its network of over 50 strategic physical supply ports and storage facilities forms the backbone of Peninsula’s global operations, enabling efficiency, reliability, and scale.
Peninsula’s logistics are further strengthened by vessels owned by and chartered through its sister company, Hercules Tanker Management, ensuring safe, high-quality deliveries whilst offering independent freight solutions to the wider tank
Cyprus Shipping Chamber Supports Global Shipping’s Call for Common Ground and Practical Solutions at IMO MEPC 84
Cyprus Shipping Chamber Supports Global Shipping’s Call for Common Ground and Practical Solutions at IMO MEPC 84
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
The Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) expresses its support for the recent joint statement issued by seven leading international shipping organisations, which underlines the vital importance of the forthcoming International Maritime Organisation (IMO) MEPC 84 meeting as a key opportunity for Member States to align positions, advance constructive dialogue and work towards common ground on practical solutions for the shipping industry’s decarbonisation pathway, while safeguarding the efficiency and resilience of global trade.
The Chamber emphasises that a unified and collaborative approach under the IMO is essential to provide the clarity and stability required by the global shipping industry. Such a framework should provide the regulatory certainty urgently needed by the maritime sector, while also sending the necessary signals to energy
Iran Considers US Talks in Pakistan With Blockade Still Unresolved
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
Iran Considers US Talks in Pakistan With Blockade Still Unresolved
Reuters
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April 20, 2026
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) – Iran is considering attending peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, following moves by Islamabad to end a U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports, a major hurdle for Iran to rejoin peace efforts.
However, the official stressed that no decision had been made.
Adding to the uncertainty, a source told Reuters that Vice President JD Vance was still in the U.S., denying reports that he was already on his way to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for talks.
With a two-week ceasefire set to expire, the senior Iranian official said Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation but no final decision had be