2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2026-01-09 15:00Core Viewpoint - The global tanker market, including A-share oil transportation companies, has experienced a significant surge due to geopolitical tensions, with notable increases in stock prices for major players in both A-shares and U.S. markets [1][5]. Group 1: Market Performance - As of January 9, A-share VLCC companies such as China Merchants Energy (招商轮船) and COSCO Shipping Energy (中远海能) saw stock increases of 9.47% and 8.82% respectively, while U.S. companies like DHT Holdings and Frontline reported gains of 14.4% and 18.7% [1]. - The BDTI index, which tracks global oil tanker rates, experienced a significant drop of 8.49% on January 2 but rebounded by 3.95% on January 8, marking the largest single-day increase since October 2025 [4]. Group 2: Shadow Fleet and Compliance - The "shadow fleet," consisting of tankers involved in sanctioned oil trade, is facing increasing restrictions, with four vessels reported seized by U.S. authorities as of January 7 [1][3]. - According to SYY data, the global VLCC fleet consists of 883 vessels, with 144 under sanctions, indicating a shrinking pool of compliant vessels as the shadow fleet struggles to return to mainstream markets [2]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Capacity Expansion - China Merchants Energy has forecasted a net profit of 6 to 6.6 billion yuan for 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 17% to 29%, driven by a significant rise in tanker business profits [5]. - COSCO Shipping Energy announced plans to expand its fleet by adding 24 new vessels, demonstrating confidence in the future of the tanker industry [5]. Group 4: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The VLCC market is expected to face a tight supply situation, with only three new VLCCs projected to be delivered in 2025, leading to a negative growth rate of -1.2% when excluding sanctioned vessels [6]. - Morgan Stanley's report indicates that the VLCC segment is the most constrained, with demand expected to grow by 0.9% while supply only increases by 0.2% by 2026, highlighting the challenges in the market [7].