LONDON, Sept 11 - The cost of moving crude oil aboard the biggest tankers has climbed to unprecedented levels this week amid the largest series of attacks on commercial shipping since the conflict between the U.S. and Iran escalated in late February.
Data from the Baltic Exchange showed that freight for supertankers - often called very large crude carriers or VLCCs - loading in the Gulf of Oman for delivery to China reached roughly 450 on a Worldscale basis, which translates to about $11.50 per barrel. That is the highest level recorded since the Worldscale rate was launched earlier this year, after the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
The jump in freight costs illustrates how military activity in the Middle East is filtering into the wider economy. Analysts warn that if these elevated shipping charges remain in place, they could add to inflationary pressures and lift costs for companies and consumers already operating under uncertainty from the expanding conflict.
Recent developments reported from the region include Iran saying it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. sinking of five Iranian oil tankers. Separately, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to four Yemeni government sources, a move that could tighten control over one of the world's critical shipping corridors.
"Renewed attacks between the U.S. Navy and Iran continue to push freight rates around the Gulf to new highs," said Vortexa analyst Ioannis Papadimitriou.
Heightened risk in and around the Middle East Gulf is also pushing freight for voyages that start in the Gulf of Oman higher, driven by fears of Iranian retaliation and the resultant thinning of tanker availability in the area, Papadimitriou added. Limited vessel presence in contested waters effectively reduces supply of available tonnage and lifts charter rates.
The spillover effect extends beyond Gulf-origin voyages. VLCC rates on the West Africa to Asia route have also climbed to record levels, reflecting a broader tightening in large crude tanker markets as operators reassess exposure to routes linked to the regional conflict.
The immediate consequence is a step-up in transport costs for crude shipments on several major routes. Over time, sustained high freight rates could translate into higher delivered crude costs and contribute to inflationary dynamics, although the persistence of such effects will depend on how long elevated route risk and constrained tanker availability continue.
Context and market implications
- Freight for VLCCs from the Gulf of Oman to China reached around 450 Worldscale, equal to roughly $11.50 per barrel.
- Recent military actions cited include attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and the Houthis reaching Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with four Yemeni government sources reporting the latter.
- VLCC rates from West Africa to Asia have also set record highs amid the same escalation.
These developments affect sectors tied to oil logistics and energy price transmission, as well as businesses sensitive to higher transportation costs.