越来越多的“僵尸船”现身马六甲海峡，伊朗原油走私手段升级

Core Insights - The report from Kpler highlights the increasing presence of "zombie ships" in the critical Strait of Malacca, particularly on the route from the Eastern Outer Port Limit (EOPL) to China, complicating the tracking of Iranian crude oil entering China [1][6] Group 1: Zombie Ships and AIS Manipulation - "Zombie ships" are vessels that have become part of a shadow fleet due to sanctions, shutting off their AIS signals and broadcasting signals from decommissioned ships to conceal their identities during cargo unloading [1][6] - Kpler reported four new cases of "zombie ships" following the unloading of approximately 6 million barrels of Iranian crude oil by the sanctioned VLCC "Gather View" at a Chinese port [3] - Specific examples include the VLCC "Vanity" using the AIS identity of the retired VLCC "Uranus," and the VLCC "Ivy" adopting the identity of the VLCC "DS Tina" after loading Iranian crude [5] Group 2: Impact of Sanctions on Iranian Oil Exports - Despite the emergence of "zombie ships," Iranian crude oil exports to China have reportedly declined, with May figures showing approximately 1.1 million barrels per day, a decrease of about 20% year-on-year [7] - The decline in exports reflects the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions, although tracking accuracy is hindered by the closure of vessel transponders and the re-labeling of oil from other countries [7][8] - The tightening of U.S. sanctions is putting pressure on supply chains, while demand is also weakening due to seasonal refinery maintenance delays [7] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Competition - The decline in prices of competing crude varieties from Russia, such as Sokol and Novy Port, is also affecting the market share of Iranian oil [8] - Chinese buyers have reduced their crude oil procurement demand in May, following earlier stockpiling behaviors [8] - The dual impact of sanctions and market factors is reshaping the landscape of Iranian oil trade, presenting new challenges for international maritime regulation and oil trade tracking [10]