The impact of a potential truce will differ across various tanker segments
This week, U.S. President Donald Trump called for immediate peace talks for Ukraine following a "very productive" 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also communicated with Trump, expressing his hope for a "lasting peace."
The Russian fleet slated for scrapping could invigorate the market after the easing of tensions
Although the crude tanker markets may experience a limited direct impact, shifts in trade flows could affect ship demand. Larger crude tankers might benefit from a potential peace agreement, having lost market share in Asia, while smaller tankers could face pressure. Currently, 25% of product tankers and 20% of crude tankers serving Russia are over 20 years old. If Russian oil starts flowing westward again, a wave of scrapping is expected, which would benefit the main market.
Source: Pareto Securities