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China backs talks, urges restraint on US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 13, 2026

China called for calm and restraint on Monday after the U.S. Donald Trump has threatened to blockade 'the Strait of Hormuz' after the failure of the weekend talks in Islamabad that were meant to end the Iran War. Prior to the war, China was the world's largest crude importer.

What will a US Naval Blockade of Iran Mean for Oil Flows?

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 13, 2026

U.S. Military said that it will block shipping traffic in and out Iran's port starting at 10 am. The U.S. military announced that it would block shipping?traffic in and out of Iran's ports starting at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). This move will?prevent…

Ship tracking data shows that Iran-linked vessels are driving traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 10, 2026

According to ship tracking data, the majority of ships that sailed through the Strait of Hormuz?in?the?past?day were connected to Iran. Other vessels are putting off making voyages despite a?two week ceasefire reached this week by?Tehran? and Washington?, data and shipping sources say.

Gulf markets fall amid Middle East conflict escalation; Saudi edge higher

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 30, 2026

The Gulf stock markets fell in early trading on Monday after Yemen's Houthis attacked Israel?overnight, further escalating U.S. and Israel conflict with Iran -and its proxies - in the Middle East. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that…

Japan not planning Hormuz escort mission, PM Takaichi says

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 16, 2026

Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan, said on Monday that Japan has no plans to send naval vessels to escort vessels around the Middle East. Donald Trump has called on allies in the Middle East to help protect tankers that are traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi, the PM of Japan, says that Japan has not yet planned an escort mission to Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 15, 2026

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Prime Minister, said that the country does not plan to send naval vessels to escort ships in a?Middle East? after Donald Trump asked allies to escort oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz. "We have not taken any decision about dispatching escort vessels." Takaichi…

CORRECTED - Southeast Asian refineries reduce output due to tightened crude supplies

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 10, 2026

Sources say that a growing number of refineries in Southeast Asia, who are dependent on Middle East oil for their production, have reduced output due to the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. Sources say that the conflict has halted all shipments across the Strait of Hormuz.

Taiwan's natural gas imports from the US will increase in June

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 9, 2026

Taiwan's government announced?on? Tuesday that natural gas imports from the United States would increase?from June?as they?have signed?new supply contracts. They also said that they were working to resolve the disruptions caused by the Middle East war.

As Asian buyers search for cargo, more LNG tankers are diverted.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

As buyers scramble to find replacement cargoes, more tankers are diverting their shipments towards Asia. The Middle East conflict has halted?tanker?traffic through the Strait of?Hormuz. It also disrupted the supplies of Qatar, which is the world's?second largest?seller of fuel.

Iraq cuts oil production, and more will follow if the disruptions in Hormuz continue, Iraqi oil officials claim

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 3, 2026

Iraq has reduced oil production by almost 1.5 million barrels per day. These cuts could increase to over 3 million bpd in a few days, as the country is running out of storage space and can't export crude oil due to the Iran Crisis. Iraqi officials…

Iran conflict disrupts shipping globally as tankers become stranded and damaged

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 2, 2026

The insurance companies have canceled war risk coverage on vessels in the Gulf due to the increasing conflict with Iran. This has caused at least four damaged tankers, two deaths of seafarers and 150 stranded ships around the Strait of Hormuz.

Ship insurers cancel their war risk coverage due to the conflict in Iran

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 2, 2026

A number of marine insurers have announced that they are cancelling their war risk coverage for ships because of the conflict in the Gulf and Iran. According to notices posted on their websites dated March 1, insurers such as?Gard?, Skuld?, NorthStandard?…

Asian airline shares drop as US-Iran conflict disrupts traveling and raises oil prices

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 1, 2026

Airline shares fell on Monday. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific and Australia's Qantas Airlines, as well as Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines all dropped more than 5%. This was after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes against?Iran over the weekend…

Pentagon: US forces capture third sanctioned oil-tanker in Indian Ocean

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 24, 2026

The Pentagon announced?on Tuesday that U.S. forces had intercepted a sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean, after tracing it from Caribbean waters. This was the third interdiction of this kind in the region. Washington has stepped up its blockade of vessels going to or from Venezuela…

Middle East oil exports drive tanker costs up to a 6-year high amid US-Iran threat

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 24, 2026

Industry sources claim that the cost of shipping crude oil has risen?to its highest level in six years. This is due to a surge of crude exports out of the Middle East, as traders rush to book charters before a possible conflict between the U.S.

Russell assumes that there will be no disruption in the supply of crude oil from Iran.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 18, 2026

There is a premium built into crude oil prices due to tensions between Iran and the United States. The headlines fluctuate daily, but there's an assumption that all will be well. Brent futures, the global benchmark, rose 4.4% to $70.35 per barrel on Wednesday.

Japan's JERA claims domestic offshore wind project is on schedule despite rising cost

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 18, 2026

JERA, Japan's largest power generator, has started?construction on its offshore wind project at Akita in?northern Japan. The project is scheduled to start up by 2028, according to Hisahide OKuda, the president of JERA. The move comes despite…

What is on the agenda of US-Japan discussions?

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 28, 2025

In talks between Prime Minister Sanae Takayi and President Donald Trump, the U.S. revealed that 20 companies were interested in key projects such as critical minerals and AI. Tokyo may have agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S. as part of an agreement on tariffs.

US sanctions China refinery and others for Iran oil purchases

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 9, 2025

On Thursday, President Donald Trump's administration announced that the U.S. had imposed sanctions against about 100 individuals and entities, including a Chinese refinery and terminal independent of China, which helped Iran in its oil and petrochemicals trading.

US sanctions against Yemeni Houthis increase

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 12, 2025

The United States announced a new round of sanctions on Yemen's Houthis, claiming that it was the largest action Washington has taken against the Iran-aligned organization. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would issue sanctions against 32 people and entities…

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