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: Consultancy & Research

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 13.06.25

Tense Times

Tensions between Israel and Iran are nothing new, but they came to a head overnight. The situation remains fluid and at this point in time could turn in a number of different directions. Israel has been clear that further attacks are planned. The United States, claimed not to be involved in supporting the attacks, but has warned that more intense strikes are planned, unless Iran agrees to a nuclear deal. Talks with Iran are/were planned for this coming weekend, but only time will tell if those talks do indeed proceed. So, with all that in mind, how might the tanker markets be impacted?

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Tanker Market Report 06.06.25

Refinery developments

Total global refining capacity has been in an upwards trend for a long time, and years with declines are rare, barring those caused by overarching events such as the COVID pandemic. It is possible that this trend will soon change. Refinery closures are accelerating in the Atlantic Basin, driven by lower margins largely caused by structural demand developments. In recent months, global refining margins have been surprisingly strong, though maintenance activity and the closure of refineries are partly responsible. East of Suez, refining capacity is still growing, though at a slower pace than in previous years, whilst some capacity rationalisation is also prevalent in China.

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Tanker Market Report 30.05.25

Mixed Signals

The crude tanker market experienced a disappointingly weak first quarter, with the anticipated strong winter market failing to materialize. However, the market showed signs of a rebound in Q2, though this seems to be faltering. This raises the question, was this merely a temporary blip, or did fundamental shifts drive this improvement?

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Tanker Market Report 23.05.25

Deal or no Deal?

Since April the US and Iran have been engaging in “direct” negotiations over curbs to Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. So far 4 rounds of talks have been held, with a 5th round scheduled for today. Talks between Iran and the European Union also took place last week in Turkey. So, with both sides still talking, can a deal be done?

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Tanker Market Report 16.05.25

Aging Fleet

The tanker fleet is aging. The last couple of years have seen few deliveries and little scrapping as a strong market and a growing dark fleet has kept many vessels from being beached. Second-hand asset values surged in the years following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as especially older vessels have found ready buyers in the dark fleet and sanctioned markets with prices far exceeding scrap values. With 51% of the total tanker fleet of 25,000 dwt and above aged 15 years and older and 22% above the age of 20, it begs the question of how aging has impacted fleet utilisation. Part of the answer lies in dark and sanctioned fleet activity, with 93% of the dark fleet aged 15 and over, and 64% aged 20 years and older.

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Tanker Market Report 09.05.25

Carbon Pricing

Undoubtedly, the most significant development at MEPC 83 was the establishment of the IMO Net Zero Framework, which introduced a GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) standard and economic measures, such as a two-tier carbon trading system requiring higher emitters to offset their CO₂ emissions while rewarding ships that operate with low or zero emissions.

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Tanker Market Report 02.05.25

Extreme Uncertainty

Every year since 2020, as analysts we have complained that the outlook for the market has never been so uncertain. And every year, the level of uncertainty “Trumps” the previous year. 2025 is no different, with so many different factors having the potential to pull the tanker markets in a plethora of different directions.

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Tanker Market Report 25.04.25

Section 301 Saga

After weeks of speculation, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) finally published their much-anticipated action plan to address alleged Chinese maritime dominance. Most international shipping companies were relieved to see almost all measures were significantly watered down. Notably, the “fleet composition” requirement has been dropped, so if an owner has Chinese built vessels, it will not impact their non-Chinese built vessels. However, the latest plan still has considerable ramifications for tankers.

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Tanker Market Report 11.04.25

Price Pressure

With all the turmoil in the global financial markets, oil prices have come under pressure not seen since the pandemic. Prices began their heavy slide last week and fell 18% to a four-year low, before recovering to $64/bbl, as Trump paused his reciprocal tariffs (except China) for 90 days. US trade policy was of course the primary driver, but perhaps most surprising of all, was the timing of OPEC+’s decision to accelerate production increases at a time when the demand outlook is turning increasingly bearish. Prices are likely to remain volatile as markets react to ever changing US trade policy, but for now remain significantly off where they began the year.

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Tanker Market Report 04.04.25

Liberation Day

On Wednesday the 2nd of April, the much-anticipated Liberation Day came to pass. US President Donald Trump made true his threats and passed a 10% tariff on all imports from all trading partners from the 5th of April. Additionally, reciprocal tariffs coming into force on the 9th of April will be applied to specific trading partners designed to match tariffs those trading partners impose on US imports. For example, Trump announced a 20% fee on the European Union, 24% on Japan, 27% on India, and 34% on China. All these tariffs are on top of already existing tariffs implemented by the current administration. Crucially, the White House clarified that crude oil and refined products will not be subject to the additional 10% tariffs. Notable for tanker markets is also that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will continue as they are, with both Canadian and Mexican oil and products trading into the US tariff free, so little rerouting is expected to occur here yet. As with all announced tariffs, this may be subject to change.

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Tanker Market Report 28.03.25

Power Shift

Global oil demand growth slowed markedly in 2024, rising by just 0.8% year-on-year – less than half the growth rate recorded in 2023, according to the IEA Global Energy Review. A significant factor behind this slowdown was the accelerating uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). In particular, road transport oil demand in China fell 1.8% year-on-year amid rapid expansion of EVs and natural gas-powered trucks.

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Tanker Market Report 21.03.25

Opening the Floodgates

A few years ago, the VLCC market buzzed with talks of new offshore export terminals capable of fully loading VLCCs which would improve the export economics for US crude to Asia. Back in August 2023 we wrote a report on the topic, but since then interest in the matter has faded, whilst permitting has been plagued by bureaucracy and climate goals. In that report, we commented on several projects including Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT), Blue Water Texas, Texas GulfLink (TGL) and Blue Marlin. Given the permitting challenges and lack of regulatory support, some of these projects have stalled. However, with a new administration and a new approach, the odds of one of these terminals making it into service by the end of Trump’s term have increased significantly.

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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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