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Markets & Shipping
Freight markets, ordering, S&P activity and the commercial forces shaping fleet decisions.
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Off-hire bunker ROB discrepancy: 7 steps when owner and charterer figures don't match
What the technical manager, master and charterer's operator do when the redelivery bunker figures disagree: hold the tanks, compare on one basis, re-gauge, reconcile against the ship's records, record the disagreement and settle under the charter party.
News · Markets & Shipping VLCC Sentiment Softens After Early-Week Optimism
Affinity Research reports VLCC sentiment weakened through the week despite owners starting with a broadly positive outlook.
News · Markets & Shipping Iron Ore Seaborne Trade Rose 3.5% in 2025, Report Says
Banchero Costa's weekly market report notes global iron ore loadings grew 3.5% year-on-year in 2025.
News · Markets & Shipping Tanker Rates Hit Record Highs, Squeeze Fuel Prices
Middle East tensions and a tanker capacity shortage have driven crude freight rates to record highs, adding pressure to fuel prices.
News · Markets & Shipping Fearnleys Week 40: Shipping Market Sees Brief Slowdown
Fearnleys' latest weekly report notes a pause in shipping market activity, describing it as expected profit-taking after recent gains.
News · Markets & Shipping European Gas Market Faces Tight Winter Inventories
Intermodal's weekly report flags a challenging winter heating season for Europe's gas market amid relatively low inventory levels.
News · Markets & Shipping Soybeans Highlighted in Banchero Costa Dry Bulk Report
Banchero Costa's weekly report flags soybeans as a key dry bulk commodity, noting they account for about 3% of seaborne trade.
News · Markets & Shipping Star Asia: Western Hemisphere Energy Trade Hits Bottlenecks
Star Asia's Week 39 report flags fresh logistical bottlenecks in Western Hemisphere energy trade, though few details are disclosed.
News · Markets & Shipping VLCC Rates Ease After Record-Setting Week, Affinity Reports
Affinity Research says VLCC tanker activity has cooled sharply following last week's exceptional rate surge.
News · Markets & Shipping Fearnleys: Fujairah-GOO Tanker Rates Cool After WS 800 Spike
Fearnleys' latest weekly update shows tanker rates on the Fujairah-Gulf of Oman eastbound route easing after a brief surge to WS 800s.
News · Markets & Shipping ConTex Container Charter Index Edges Up in Week 38
The ConTex container ship time charter index rose 2 points to 1,646 in week 38, up 0.1% week-on-week.
News · Markets & Shipping Crude Oil Loadings Rebound in 2025 After 2024 Dip
Banchero Costa data show global crude oil loadings recovering in 2025 following a marginal 2024 decline, per a Hellenic Shipping News report.
News · Markets & Shipping China Steel Sector Back in Focus, CISA Urges Discipline
Intermodal's weekly market report notes renewed attention on China's steel sector after CISA called for domestic production discipline.
News · Markets & Shipping VLCC Rates Near WS 1000 on Fujairah/East Run
Fearnleys reports VLCC freight rates on the Fujairah/East route climbing close to the WS 1000 benchmark.
News · Markets & Shipping Indian Ship Recycling Market Holds Firm, Report Says
Best Oasis's weekly report notes continued positive buying sentiment in India's ship recycling market.
News · Markets & Shipping VLCC Rates Surge as Mideast War Curbs Hormuz Transits
VLCC rates jumped this week as escalating Middle East conflict restricted Strait of Hormuz transits, according to Affinity Research.
News · Markets & Shipping Container Spot Rates Slip as Carriers Discount Ahead of GRIs
Carrier discounting pushed transpacific and Asia-Europe container spot rates lower, even as GRIs and FAK hikes loom for August.
Supertanker U-Turns Near Houthi-Threatened Red Sea Chokepoint
An empty VLCC bound for Saudi Arabia's Yanbu reversed course near Bab el-Mandeb amid a Houthi blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping.
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