Russia-Ukraine peace prospects put pressure on product tanker sentiment
- Shares of Scorpio Tankers and Ardmore Shipping fell 7% on Thursday
- Product tankers face two theoretical tonne-mile reversals: an eventual end to the Red Sea closure and a return (at least partially) to pre-Russia-Ukraine war trading routes
- Spot rates for product tankers are down over 50% year on year despite support from the Russia-Ukraine war and Red Sea crisis
Product tanker tonne-miles have benefited from both rerouting of cargoes due to the Russia-Ukraine war and diversions around the Red Sea. What happens to rates if both of these geopolitical tailwinds diminish?