LNG

Our brokers specialise in delivering comprehensive project-based solutions tailored to the unique needs of clients in the LNG sector.

From facilitating long-term charters to overseeing newbuilding projects and structuring sale/leaseback arrangements, our team leverages its extensive industry knowledge and global network to navigate the intricate challenges of the LNG market.

In tandem with our project-focused approach, Gibson Shipbrokers’ Research Desk plays a crucial role in enhancing our LNG Service. We go beyond traditional brokerage services by offering detailed LNG market analysis, long-term forecasts, and advisory services.

LNG in numbers

760+

LNG carriers on the water

400+

LNG carriers on order

400m

Tonnes per annum of LNG shipped in 2022

LNG Team

Gerrit Stricker

Head Of LNG

Department: LNG

Location: London

Tel: +44 (0)20 7667 1194

Matt Coates

Research Analyst

Department: LNG

Location: London

Romain Grandbesancon

Senior Broker

Department: LNG

Location: London

Tonci Tokic

LNG Business Developer

Department: LNG

Location: Singapore

Propelling maritime trade through excellence in shipping services.

With over 130 years of experience and a global network of industry connections, we are your trusted partner in shipbroking and advisory services.

Tankers

From crude oil to refined products we facilitate the chartering and brokerage of tankers.

LPG, Ammonia & Petrochemical Gases

Leveraging expertise, we ensure seamless transportation of liquefied gases.

Sale & Purchase

Facilitating the acquisition, divestiture and value optimisation of shipping vessels.

Specialised & Chemical Tankers

Offering specialised solutions, we manage the chartering and brokerage of chemical tankers.

Projects & Time Charter

Catering for the specific needs of clients in project and time charter requirements.

Consultancy & Research

Providing valuable insights and strategic advice to empower our clients with market intelligence and analysis.

LNG

Facilitating chartering solutions to ensure the efficient and secure transportation of LNG.

Dry Cargo

Managing and actioning the chartering and brokerage of dry bulk commodities.

Discover more weekly reports

Tanker Market Report 14.03.25

Sailing the Sea of Sanctions

Just before the end of his presidency, the Biden administration gave a parting gift to the tanker markets as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 155 mainly Russia affiliated tankers. In the same week, Shandong Port Group, home to refiners responsible for significant crude imports from countries under US embargo, banned sanctioned tankers from calling into its ports in eastern China. The following weeks saw some redirection of trade flows and rising freight rates especially for VLCCs, as buyers of Iranian and Russian crude attempted to diversify their import streams to safeguard supply.

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Tanker Market Report 07.03.25

Navigating Nigeria’s Oil Trade

After countless setbacks, unexpected challenges and a pandemic to deal with, just last month, Reuters reported that the 650kbd Dangote refinery had reached 85% of its operational capacity and could achieve 100% within 30 days, citing company sources. The resumption of operations at the revamped 60kbd Port Harcourt refinery and the 125kbd Warri refinery was also reported by NNPC in late 2024. Undoubtedly, the addition of new capacity and the restart of old plants represent significant achievements for Nigeria, inevitably leading to structural shifts in the country’s product imports and crude exports. However, while changes in trade flows have been observed, they have so far been somewhat limited, considering the reported refining capabilities.

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Tanker Market Report 28.02.25

Section 301

This week, many in the shipping industry likely heard about Section 301 of the US Trade Act for the first time. This provision allows the US to address unfair foreign trade practices affecting US commerce. Last year, the US Trade Representative (USTR) launched an investigation into Chinese shipbuilding and maritime practices, concluding in January 2025 that China engaged in unfair practices. As a result, the USTR has published a proposed action plan and is accepting public comments until March 24.

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Tanker Market Report 21.02.25

Fielding FPSOs

Floating production storage and offloading platforms (FPSOs) are having somewhat of a renaissance. After a challenging covid period higher oil prices carried with it a larger orderbook for FPSOs, several of which are due to be delivered this year. FPSOs allow flexibility in deployment and give cost advantages over traditional production infrastructure, and notably, are currently mostly being deployed offshore, relying on tankers for further transport of oil.

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Tanker Market Report 14.02.25

The Beginning of the End

Last week we titled our report “White House in the Spotlight… Again” and we could just as well use the same headline again this week, with the tanker market outlook very much influenced by decisions made in the US and Moscow. This week, Trump announced that he and President Putin had spoken at length, the first confirmed direct contact between a Russian and US president since 2022. The agenda was of course focused on ending the war in Ukraine. For the first time since the conflict began, it appears there will now be a push for peace. How long this might take, and what that might look like remains unclear, but given how impactful the war has been for the tanker market, it is arguably the most critical factor impacting the medium-term outlook.

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Tanker Market Report 07.02.25

White House in Spotlight… Again

It has been another turbulent week in the oil and tanker markets. Whilst U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico were postponed for a month, the 10% tariff on all Chinese products took effect on February 4, with Beijing swiftly retaliating, imposing a 10% tariff on U.S. crude exports and a 15% duty on LNG and coal exports starting February 10, whilst some other measures were also implemented. Later in the week, the market saw another executive order in which President Trump directed the imposition of “maximum economic pressure” on Iran, with the OFAC promptly releasing fresh sanctions, containing a list of individuals, companies and five tankers.

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Tanker Market Report 31.01.25

VLCCs in vogue

VLCCs are enjoying a moment in the spotlight. A low orderbook and sanctions news have put a spotlight on the largest asset class in the tanker markets. However, the outlook for VLCCs has been promising before and freight rates have consistently underwhelmed. Is it finally time for VLCCs to shine?

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Tanker Market Report 24.01.25

First Five Days

Following a very impactful end to the Biden era, the oil and tanker markets expected Trump’s second stint in the White House to start where Biden left off. Yet, for all the jaw dropping executive orders issued on other unrelated topics, the shipping and energy markets so far seem to have missed out on any immediate impact. However, even if the details are lacking, some clues are starting to emerge as to how the new President will tackle a number of key energy related issues.

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Tanker Market Report 17.01.25

A Lot Can Happen in a Week

On Friday 10th January, the United States sanctioned Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, two key Russian insurers and 183 ships, including 156 tankers, sending shock waves through the oil and tanker markets. Crude prices have rallied on concerns of potential oil supply disruptions, greater volatility has also been witnessed in a number of crude and product arbs. Spot crude and product freight across all markets firmed, with exception of most Aframax trades.

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Tanker Market Report 10.01.25

Sanctions Sting?

Earlier this week, news emerged that one of the major port operators in China’s Shandong Province, Shandong Port Group (SPG), would ban the entry of vessels which appear on the United States OFAC sanctions list. Given the fact that independent refiners in the province are the largest receivers of Iranian, Venezuelan and Russian crude, the impact could be significant. Looking at 2024 trade to the ports within SPG’s remit, it becomes possible to get a sense of what sectors might see the greatest impact.

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Tanker Market Report 20.12.24

The Year in Review

2024 started with fresh OPEC+ supply cuts and the onset of the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme, though both of these seemingly impactful stories were quickly swept away by a wave of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping passing through the Red Sea. While these attacks initially targeted only Israeli linked vessels, they quickly became more indiscriminate leading to large scale re-routing from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope with no end currently in sight, although attacks on merchant vessels have subsided somewhat.

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Tanker Market Report 13.12.24

Choppy Waters Ahead

In recent years, the tanker market has faced quite a few tailwinds. Structurally, the industry has benefitted from the colossal gains in tanker tonne miles following sanctions on Russia, the exit of aging tonnage into the grey fleet and minimal new deliveries. This year, the rerouting via Cape of Good Hope has also supported the clean tanker market.

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Tanker Market Report 06.12.24

Keep Rollin

Yesterday OPEC+ made the seemingly inevitable decision to roll over production cuts for another 3 months, acknowledging that the current fundamentals do not allow for additional OPEC+ production. In fact, with the fundamentals suggesting a well-supplied market for 2025, the group further slowed the pace of production increases.

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