Trading houses ‘less stressed’ by Middle East crisis due to deeper funding access
Trading houses ‘less stressed’ by Middle East crisis due to deeper funding access
in
Oil & Companies News
22/04/2026
Trading houses were better poised to capitalize on the energy price volatility linked to the war in Iran after years of windfall profits, according to leading industry players and institutional investors, who say markets are quickly adjusting to a faster rate of the commodities cycle and black swan events.
When the war in Iran plunged the world into its second energy crisis in the space of five years, the world’s largest commodities traders were in a strong position to embrace market risk, Sebastian Barrack, Head of Commodities at US hedge fund Citadel, told the FT Commodities Global Summit on April 20 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, and previously the Covid-19 pandemic, the world’s leading private traders – Vitol, Trafigura, Mercuria and Gunvor – achieved record results, booking net profits of around $50 billion combined between 2
Actively Recruiting Critical Licensed Positions to Advance our Fleet
Actively Recruiting Critical Licensed Positions to Advance our Fleet
Posted to
Maritime Reporter
(by
Military Sealift Command
)
on
April 20, 2026
Military Sealift Command (MSC) offers outstanding benefits, a 4:2 rotation and paid upgrade training for both licensed deck and engine officers to advance their credentials. Whether coming from industry or transitioning from active duty service, MSC will further your career trajectory.
There are exiting changes happening at MSC.
WIFI is being installed on all ships,
Continuous growth in the number and types of vessels in our fleet
Paid upgrade training to further advance your license
Paycap removal
Whether you’re an experienced licensed engineer or officer MSC has a role that fits your career path.
Regardless of the position you choose, all of these roles come with competitive
sign-on bonuses!
Sign-On Bonuses Available in Select Positions
First Officer:
Annual average salary is $222,921 and up to a $71,900 Sign-On Bonus Available
First Assist
Hormuz Crisis Enters Dangerous New Phase as U.S. Seizes Vessel and Attacks Resume
A view of Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska as the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Spruance conducts its interception in a location given as the north Arabian Sea, in this screen capture from a video released April 19, 2026. CENTCOM/Handout via REUTERS
Hormuz Crisis Enters Dangerous New Phase as U.S.
U.S. Extends Russian Oil Wind-Down License Despite Earlier Pledge to Let It Expire
An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire, France, October 2, 2025. Extends Russian Oil Wind-Down License Despite Earlier Pledge to Let It Expire
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 0
April 20, 2026
The U.S. Treasury Department has quietly extended its
sanctions
wind-down authorization for Russian oil cargoes already at sea, issuing a new general license that allows shipments to continue flowing through mid-May—despite prior signals that the waiver would not be renewed.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on April 17 issued
General License 134B
, authorizing transactions necessary for the delivery and sale of Russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels on or before that date.
Strait of Hormuz: Crude at Sea, Reopening Impact, and Latest Vessel Movements
Strait of Hormuz: Crude at Sea, Reopening Impact, and Latest Vessel Movements
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Based on our vessel and commodity tracking data, we currently estimate that between 15 and 16 million metric tons of crude oil are held aboard vessels within the Persian (Arabian) Gulf.
Applying a typical conversion factor for Middle Eastern crude grades (around 7.2–7.25 barrels per metric ton), this equates to approximately 108–116 million barrels currently at sea within the Gulf.
At pre-conflict throughput levels of 15–20 million barrels per day through the Strait of Hormuz, this seaborne inventory could, in purely mechanical terms, transit the Strait within roughly 6–8 days following a full reopening.
However, physical delivery to end markets in Asia would lag materially. Typical voyage times imply:
~2 weeks to southern China
~3 weeks to northern China and Japan
At the same time, terminal activity would likely resume alongside any reopening, adding fresh loading vo
Europe looks to secure shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Europe looks to secure shipping in Strait of Hormuz
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
France and the United Kingdom have said they are ready to lead a multinational mission to help restore freedom of navigation and trade in the Strait of Hormuz, only to be deployed once peace had been agreed in the region.
But at a meeting of the coalition of nonbelligerent states in Paris on Friday, the mood remained one of caution.
A temporary ceasefire has put fighting between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition on hold until April 22. On Thursday, a 10-day ceasefire was also announced between Israel and Lebanon, the stronghold of Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.
On Friday, both Iran and the US said the Strait of Hormuz was now “open” to commercial shipping, though the US said its blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a peace deal with Tehran was reached. Shortly after, on Saturday, Iran reversed its decision to open the strait, citing the US blockade of its ports.
VLCC Tanker Rates in Mixed Mode
VLCC Tanker Rates in Mixed Mode
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Clean
LR2
The TC1 75kt MEG/Japan index climbed from WS543 to WS589 this week.
A voyage west also saw the TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent index rise $362,000 to $10.2 million.
The TC15 80kt Mediterranean/East index was consistently marked around $11.5 million this week, with the corresponding TCE at $113,000/day on Baltic description round trip.
LR1
The TC5 55kt MEG/Japan index has also been assessed up 52 points this week to W621.
A trip west on TC8 65kt MEG/UK-Continent ended the week with the index $485,000 better to $7.55 million.
MR
The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa index remained unperturbed this week at around the WS705 mark.
On the UK-Continent, MRs this week with freight rates dipped. The TC2 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic Coast index was assessed 33 points lower than last week at WS279 with the Baltic TCE for the round trip now at $30,000/day.
In the US Gulf, MR freight bumped up and down this week. The TC14 38kt US Gulf/U
Ship managers step up with plans for stability
Ship managers step up with plans for stability
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
G
eopolitical tensions, market volatility and an approaching influx of newbuild vessels increase attractions of outsourcing management services for a key market constituency, writes Capt. Anurag Mathur, Managing Director, Wallem Commercial Services
Geopolitical volatility has multiplied the challenges for ship owners and the surge in vessel supply approaching through late 2026 and running into 2028 presents a strong opportunity for commercial ship managers to capture market share.
For small and local ship owners with global ambitions, a sound business case is the key ingredient for establishing a competitive edge. However, recent market uncertainties demonstrate that shipping is also increasingly complex and demands responsiveness to rapidly changing scenarios which individual owners access through the operational scale, data-based insight and broad competencies commercial managers bring to the tab
What Does AIS Have to Do with $100+ Oil, $400k/day Tankers, and Gasoline Up 25%+?
What Does AIS Have to Do with $100+ Oil, $400k/day Tankers, and Gasoline Up 25%+?
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
At first glance, these outcomes appear to be driven purely by geopolitics and physical disruption. However, a critical, but less visible factor sits underneath: the breakdown of trust in maritime information, specifically AIS.
WHAT IS AIS?
AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a shipborne radio system that continuously broadcasts a vessel’s identity, position, course, voyage details, etc. Under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention, AIS is mandatory for most commercial vessels.
Singapore’s low-sulfur marine fuel arbitrage arrivals from the West to drop further in April
Singapore’s low-sulfur marine fuel arbitrage arrivals from the West to drop further in April
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Singapore’s low sulfur fuel oil arrivals from the Western markets are set to decrease for a third straight month in April, partly weighed down by unviable arbitrage economics due to persistently high freight rates, while the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to block oil inflows from the region.
Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, is now expected to receive around 1.4 million-1.5 million metric tons of LSFO from the West in April, down from about 1.8 million-1.9 million mt in March, multiple Singapore-based traders told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. The March volume bore the first brunt of disruption after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to start blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
“April [arbitrage arrivals] are going to be lower.