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US sanctions relief unlikely to ease tanker crisis, Kpler says

By Hilal Saki · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Kpler suggests sanctions relief on shadow fleet tankers will not ease the tanker crisis, with only 24 of 160 sanctioned VLCCs potentially available for trade, and war risk dominating freight rates. Sanctions relief risks delivering limited commercial benefits and weakening geopolitical leverage.

Key points

Sanctions relief on shadow fleet tankers is unlikely to ease the crisis.: Sanctions relief on shadow fleet tankers is unlikely to ease the crisis.
War risk is the main driver of freight rates.: War risk is the main driver of freight rates.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Washington’s reported plans to ease sanctions on shadow fleet tankers may do little to alleviate record freight rates, analytics firm Kpler said.

In a post on X, Kpler says that of approximately 160 very large crude carriers (VLCC) sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), only 24 could potentially return to mainstream trade after accounting for vessel age and ownership restrictions.

"With war risk, rather than vessel availability alone, driving freight costs in the Middle East Gulf, sanctions relief risks delivering limited commercial benefits while weakening geopolitical leverage," Kpler said.

⚠️ Sanctions relief unlikely to ease tanker crisis. Washington’s reported plans to ease sanctions on #ShadowFleet tankers may do little to alleviate record freight rates. Of approximately 160 OFAC-sanctioned VLCCs, Kpler estimates that only 24 could potentially return to mainstream trade after accounting for vessel age and ownership restrictions. With war risk, rather than vessel availability alone, driving freight costs in the Middle East Gulf, sanctions relief risks delivering limited commercial benefits while weakening geopolitical leverage. Stay ahead of the market with #Kpler Insight: https://t.co/7Z6Fahhqyq

— Kpler (@Kpler) October 16, 2026

Original source: www.middleeasteye.net

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US sanctions relief unlikely to ease tanker crisis, Kpler says

In short

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