Two super-tankers exited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, with a third now heading toward the exit, following a stay of over two months in the Gulf with a total cargo of approximately 6 million barrels of Middle Eastern crude oil, according to data from LSEG and Kpler. These vessels are among the few VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers) leaving the Gulf this month via a specific transit route designated by Iran, as noted by Reuters.
The US–Israel war with Iran and the shock to maritime transport
The war between the US, Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28, has drastically restricted navigation through the Strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and energy traffic normally passes.
South Korean tanker with 2 million barrels
The South Korean-flagged VLCC Universal Winner, carrying 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude loaded on March 4, is now exiting the Strait following the departure of two Chinese tankers. According to Kpler data, the ship is headed for Ulsan, South Korea, where the country's largest refinery, SK Energy, is located, with an scheduled offloading date of June 9.
Chinese tankers and their destinations
The Chinese-flagged VLCC Yuan Gui Yang loaded 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah oil on February 27, one day before the conflict began. The ship, chartered by Unipec—the trading arm of Sinopec—exited the Strait of Hormuz and is expected to reach the port of Shuidong, near the city of Maoming in Guangdong province, China, on June 4. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC Ocean Lily carried a total of 2 million barrels of oil from Qatar and Iraq. The vessel belongs to Sinochem and is expected to arrive at the port of Quanzhou in Fujian province on June 5. Last week, the VLCC Yuan Hua Hu also left the Strait, transporting another 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil toward Zhoushan in eastern China.
Mystery with Cyprus-flagged tanker
A case of particular interest is that of the Cyprus-flagged VLCC Grand Lady, which entered the Strait with its transponder disabled, according to LSEG data. The empty oil tanker is currently anchored off the coast of Dubai, while its management company, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, did not immediately provide a comment.
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