Gloomy horizon for tankers with geopolitics and trade in disarray
- Geopolitical tensions arising from Trump policies create uncertainty, potentially reshaping global oil trade flows and routes
- Crude tanker demand may tighten in 2025 but weaken next year as trade normalises, while product tankers face reduced distances
- Tanker asset prices and newbuild orders could decline as markets face headwinds from geopolitics and supply/demand imbalances
Tanker shipping faces significant uncertainty from geopolitical tensions and evolving trade flows. Asset prices seem to have peaked with newbuilding deliveries set to accelerate from 2026