Oil Market News, OPEC+, sanctions and price shocks

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Russia's Putin slams U.S. oil blockade on Cuba: 'We do not accept anything like this'

His comments come as the Caribbean island nation grapples with a worsening economic crisis.

www.cnbc.com

 

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Russia Executes First-Ever Triple Arctic LNG Ship-to-Ship Transfer Amid Sanctions

Russia has for the first time conducted three simultaneous LNG ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in Arctic waters, a move highlighting Moscow’s increasingly sophisticated logistics network for exporting gas despite Western sanctions.

gcaptain.com

 

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Flag states rush to flush out fake registries in buildup to IMO meeting

The buildup to the IMO’s legal committee meeting in April has seen a flurry of letters from states notifying the organisation of fraudulent operations registering ships under their flag and issuing seafarer certifications without authorisation

www.lloydslist.com

 

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Russian Oil Most Discounted Since 2023 on Western Sanctions

Russia’s flagship crude is selling at the deepest discount in the international marketplace in almost three years as western sanctions deter trade with Moscow.

gcaptain.com

 

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US investor with ties to Trump family looks to Murmansk

Texas businessman Gentry Beach says he has signed an agreement to use a movable liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant currently under construction in Russia’s Murmansk region.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

 

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Breakwave Bi-Weekly Tanker Report - February 24, 2026​

Feb 24, 2026
For the full report visit our website www.breakwaveadvisors.com , or click here: https://static1.squarespace.com/stati...


1:53

 

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VLCC Charter Rates Top $100,000 as DHT Locks in Premium One-Year Charter

VLCC charter rates have pushed back into six-figure territory, with DHT Holdings (NYSE:DHT) securing a one-year time charter at $105,000 per day for the 2011-built DHT Redwood — one of the highest publicly disclosed fixtures of...

gcaptain.com

 

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Ten years after first Sabine Pass cargo, U.S. LNG exports are still on the rise - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

www.eia.gov

 

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US boards another runaway Venezuela tanker in Indian Ocean

US forces boarded another tanker that escaped its shadow fleet ‘quarantine’ in the Caribbean, marking the 10th since boarding of a Venezuela-linked tanker since December

www.lloydslist.com

 

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For 7th straight week, benchmark diesel price is higher

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges has risen for the 7th consecutive week.

www.freightwaves.com

 

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Most natural gas pipelines built in 2025 connect the South Central United States to supply - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

www.eia.gov

 

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EU Seeks G7 Coordination on Maritime Services Ban on Russian Seaborne Oil

The European Union needs to coordinate its plan to impose a full maritime services ban on Russia's seaborne crude oil exports with other G7 countries before pushing ahead with the measure, the EU's sanctions envoy said on Thursday.

gcaptain.com

 

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VLCC Day Rates Soar to Rare Heights

Daily charter rates for VLCC tankers on the Middle East to Asia run have reached their highest level since those which prevailed during the COVID pan...

maritime-executive.com

Fire Horse freight frenzy: VLCC markets smash records in supertanker anniversary year - Splash247

In Chinese culture, 60 years signifies the beginning of a new life, symbolising the rebirth of a person or institution. It also represents five full cycles of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. The year 2026 – the Year of the Fire Horse – marks the 60th anniversary since the launch of the...

splash247.com

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Supertanker Market Heats Up With War Premium Back in Play | OilPrice.com

VLCC rates hit six-year highs, with MEG–China earnings topping $200,000/day amid rising U.S.–Iran tensions, war risk premiums.

oilprice.com

 

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Russia and Iran Battle for China's Oil Market as India Pulls Back

Russian Urals crude is now $12 below Brent as Moscow and Tehran fight for Chinese buyers. Nearly 48 million barrels of Iranian oil are stranded at sea with nowhere to go.

gcaptain.com

 

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Ukraine’s Drone War Puts Kazakhstan’s Oil Lifeline at Risk | OilPrice.com

Ukraine’s expanding attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are jeopardizing Kazakhstan’s primary oil export route at a time of fiscal strain and high-stakes negotiations with Western oil companies.

oilprice.com

 

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Seized Shadow Tanker is Departing Scotland Bound for U.S. Reports BBC

Seven weeks after U.S. forces boarded and seized the shadow fleet tanker Marinera (Bella 1), the vessel is reported to be leaving Scotland bound for t...

maritime-executive.com

 

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Lingering geopolitical uncertainty requires a crude rethink

Geopolitical uncertainty and a tighter than expected market have supported oil prices

think.ing.com

 

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Sinokor’s VLCC Blitz Sends U.S. Gulf Rates to Pandemic-Era Highs

A shipowner’s once-in-a-generation wager on oil tankers has made it so powerful that it controls an overwhelming majority of supertankers that can collect American oil next month.

gcaptain.com

 

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Oil Jumps as Iran Clock Ticks Toward Zero | OilPrice.com

Oil ends the month on a firm footing as Iran tensions simmer, but muted attention on the upcoming OPEC+ meeting could set the stage for an unexpected production hike.

oilprice.com

 

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Corpus Christi Expansion Cements U.S. Position as Global LNG Export Leader

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright signed an export authorization yesterday for a 12% expansion at Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi liquefied natural gas terminal, underscoring America’s continued dominance in global...

gcaptain.com

 

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Oil Markets Brace for Volatility As U.S.-Israel Launch Strikes Across Iran | OilPrice.com

Global energy markets anticipate extreme volatility and a sharp "war premium" on crude prices following a massive, coordinated military strike launched by the United States and Israel across multiple cities in Iran.

oilprice.com

 

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Frontline foresees volatility and ‘violent’ rate moves for VLCCs

There have been VLCC rate spikes before but ‘we’ve never been in a cycle like this’, says Frontline chief executive Lars Barstad. A combination of factors renders the current cycle unique — and particularly prone to wild swings

www.lloydslist.com

 

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Iran War Threatens 20% of Global Oil Supply Through Strait of Hormuz

Oil majors have suspended tanker shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran fired retaliatory missiles across the Persian Gulf. The waterway handles 20 million barrels of oil daily—20% of global supply.

gcaptain.com

 

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What Iran Attack Means For Oil

Feb 28, 2026
Bloomberg Economics Chief Emerging Markets Economist Ziad Daoud, PhD, talks about how energy and oil prices will be impacted by the attacks on Iran.


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Tankers Diverting Strait of Hormuz Region as U.S./ Israel Strikes on Iran Intensify

Tankers Vessel tracking data show the magnitude in the amount of trade trying to safely navigate around the U.S./Israel strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliation.

gcaptain.com

 

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