Shortage of supertankers pushes crude shipping costs to record highs
Brent crude tops $117 and diesel exceeds $200 in international markets, driven not by product scarcity but by rising freight rates. According to Clarkson, chartering a supertanker on Middle East-Asia routes exceeds $1.4 million per day for the first time, versus less than $50,000 a year ago. Shipping now accounts for between 20% and 40% of the total price of crude destined for refining.
In 40 seconds
- Chartering a supertanker on Middle East-Asia routes tops $1.4 million per day for the first time, versus less than $50,000 a year earlier
- Shipping costs rose from $2 to $30 per barrel and now account for 20% to 40% of the total crude price
- There are only 925 VLCC supertankers worldwide and 15% of the fleet is idle off the coast of Oman
IASummary generated by artificial intelligence from a story by La Vanguardia. It may contain errors: the original source prevails.




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