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Category: Shipping News

Global trade under siege

Global trade under siege

Global trade under siege
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International Shipping News
18/04/2026
Y
esterday’s global trade landscape is increasingly being defined by the shadows of war, with the number of active conflicts reaching levels not seen since the end of World War II.
While the human toll is the most devastating consequence, analysis from the International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook warns that the macroeconomic and trade-related fallout could be both profound and persistent. Data from the report connects the dots between modern warfare and the dismantling of export capacity, destabilising the external sector, and creating damaging spillovers for trading partners.
At the heart of the current crisis is the rapid deterioration of a nation’s ability to participate in the global marketplace once hostilities begin. According to the IMF’s Outlook, the trade balance of conflict-site economies typically suffers a sharp blow.

Tanker Market Reached Record Levels in March

Tanker Market Reached Record Levels in March
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Hellenic Shipping News
18/04/2026
L
ast month proved to be a record one for the tanker market. In its latest monthly report, OPEC said that in March, trade disruptions and moves to source alternative crude supplies pushed dirty tanker spot freight rates to record levels. On the West Africa-to-East route, VLCC spot freight rates rose 34%, m-o-m.

Middle East escalation pushes aluminium into a structural deficit

Middle East escalation pushes aluminium into a structural deficit
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Commodity News
17/04/2026
Supply shock deepens as Gulf smelters cut output
The aluminium market has moved into a significant deficit following further escalation in the Middle East. What initially appeared as a disruption to shipping and logistics has now evolved into a material supply shock, with multiple Gulf smelters operating well below capacity.
Recent developments include the halt of operations at Emirates Global Aluminium’s Al Taweelah smelter, a sharp reduction in output at Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), and continued reduced operating rates at Qatalum.
While the Middle East accounts for roughly 9% of global aluminium production, it represents a much larger share of seaborne supply. As a result, disruptions in the region have a significant impact on market availability and pricing.
Disruptions have intensified significantly since our previous note.

MOL Signs 1st Long-Term LNG Carrier Charter Contract with INPEX- Naming Ceremony Held for Newbuilding LNG Carrier Harmonic Breeze

MOL Signs 1st Long-Term LNG Carrier Charter Contract with INPEX- Naming Ceremony Held for Newbuilding LNG Carrier Harmonic Breeze
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International Shipping News
17/04/2026
Mitsui O.S.K. announced the signing of a long-term charter contract for a newbuilding LNG carrier with INPEX Shipping Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of INPEX Corporation (INPEX President: Takayuki Ueda; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), through its wholly owned subsidiary MOL Encean Pte. This is the first LNG carrier to sail under a long-term charter contract with the INPEX Group, equipped with technologies designed to reduce environmental impact.
The “Harmonic Breeze”
The naming ceremony was held at Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd.’s Geoje Shipyard in South Korea.

DNV and Equinor introduce the Event Learning Taxonomy CLUE to improve incident understanding for industry

DNV and Equinor introduce the Event Learning Taxonomy CLUE to improve incident understanding for industry
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International Shipping News
17/04/2026
DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, in collaboration with the international energy company Equinor, has introduced a new incident taxonomy that helps organizations improve how they classify, understand, and learn from incidents. The taxonomy, called Event Learning Taxonomy CLUE, uses neutral language, fewer categories, and a systems-based approach to strengthen learning and reduce bias.
Many organizations rely on incident reporting systems to identify risk and support learning. However, existing taxonomies often use deficit‑based language that encourages hindsight bias and individual blame.

EU’s employment rate grew above 76% in 2025

EU’s employment rate grew above 76% in 2025

EU’s employment rate grew above 76% in 2025
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World Economy News
17/04/2026
In 2025, 76.1% (197.7 million people) of the EU’s 20 to 64-year-olds were employed, the highest share recorded since the start of the time series in 2009. The employment rate was up 0.3 percentage points (pp) compared with 2024 and 0.8 pp compared with 2023.
Among EU countries, the highest employment rates were recorded in Malta (83.6%), the Netherlands (83.4%) and Czechia (82.9%). The lowest rates were recorded in Italy (67.6%), Romania (69.0%) and Greece (71.0%).
This information comes from the data on the labour market published today by Eurostat.

Ernst Russ AG Acquires Four Intermediate-Class Tanker Newbuildings

Ernst Russ AG Acquires Four Intermediate-Class Tanker Newbuildings
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International Shipping News
15/04/2026
Ernst Russ AG continues its strategic growth course: the Hamburg-based shipowner has entered into an agreement to acquire four modern IMO Type II chemical/product tankers of the Intermediate class (18,500 dwt) – with all four vessels secured under fixed charters of at least five years from delivery. The charter backlog of the Ernst Russ Group increases by approximately USD 126 m.
The four newbuildings, built at Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd., China, feature a technical specification that clearly positions them in the premium segment:
Twelve tanks with high-quality MarineLINE coating enable the transport of a broad range of cargo including vegetable oils, petroleum products and chemicals
The methanol-ready design ensures high ESG compliance and long-term viability of the four vessels
Ice Class 1B and Great Lakes capability provide access to niche markets with attractive rate structures