Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2026-02-04 03:06Group 1 - Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will adjust their shared shipping route to pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, with naval support for security [3] - Following multiple attacks in the Red Sea region since the end of 2023, shipping companies have rerouted vessels around Africa, but are now considering returning to this key trade route connecting Asia and Europe [3] - According to CITIC Securities, the demand for oil transportation is expected to structurally grow by 2026, with annual VLCC freight rates projected to range between $60,000/day and $75,000/day [3] Group 2 - Guotai Junan believes that the oil shipping market has been on the rise for four consecutive years, with COSCO Shipping Energy expected to achieve record profits in 2025 and a significant year-on-year increase in Q1 2026 [4] - The firm anticipates that the oil shipping market will continue to outperform expectations in the coming years, with sufficient elasticity in foreign trade oil shipping profits [4]