U.S.-Iran Tensions Threaten to Send Oil Tanker Rates Soaring

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U.S.-Iran tensions are expected to drive up oil tanker rates, with the current rate for hiring a supertanker on the Middle East-to-China route surging to over $150,000, the highest since 2020.

Market Impact

Market impact analysis based on bullish sentiment with 90% confidence.

Sentiment
Bullish
AI Confidence
90%
Time Horizon
Short Term

Article Context

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The ratcheting up of tensions between the United States and Iran could push an already red-hot supertanker market even higher with rates soaring to the highest level since 2019, analysts say. The daily rate for hiring a supertanker on the key Middle East-to-China route has surged threefold since the beginning of the year, to over $150,000. That’s the highest since 2020, per data from the Baltic Exchange cited by Bloomberg. The rally in freight rates for the very large crude carriers (VLCC) capable of carrying around…

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Original article published by OilPrice.com on February 20, 2026.
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