Weight of Freight: VLGC troubles to persist through the rainy season at Panama Canal
Weight of Freight: VLGC troubles to persist through the rainy season at Panama Canal
As draught restrictions ease with the start of a much-awaited rainy season in the Panama Canal, difficulties are likely to persist for very large gas carriers (VLGCs) as other shipping markets move back to the route and escalate competition for transit slots.
Listen to Andres Pacheco, Analyst at the LPG Trading desk for Spain’s Repsol, and Yohanna Pinheiro, LPG Freight Market Reporter, discuss how increased competition to transit the Panama Canal and other market drivers will shape the costs of shipping LPG.
Listen now
Key topics covered
- Competitive advantages of the Panama Canal route in US-Asia routes for VLGCs
- Details of the Panama Canal booking system and slot auction price trends
- Effects of eased restrictions at the canal in heightening competition for slots among other markets
- Weather outlook and possible La Nina effects in the markets
- Long term projects to alleviate transits at Panama Canal
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US adds pressure on Iran after talks resume: Update
US adds pressure on Iran after talks resume: Update
Recasts, updates with secondary tariff on Iran oil. Washington, 6 February (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday announced actions aimed to add economic pressure on Iran after another round of US-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Oman without much progress. An executive order by Trump, released by the White House Friday afternoon, pledges to impose additional tariffs on US imports from countries engaged in business with Iran. The penalty is not automatic and is not set at a specific amount — it could be "for example 25pc", the order states. The US administration will determine whether any country continues to engage in business with Iran after 7 February and will then decide whether to apply the additional tariff, according to the order. US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi met in Muscat, Oman, on Friday and the two governments plan to hold additional meetings at a future date, according to the host country's foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi. Araqchi told Iranian reporters that he held firm to discussing only the nuclear portfolio — rather than also addressing Iran's missile program and other issues raised by the US. Araqchi said that he asserted "the rights that the Iranian people have", which is likely a reference to Tehran's demand to continue to have nuclear enrichment capacity. The US administration is eyeing permanent curbs on Iran's nuclear program. Also on Friday, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on 14 additional tankers allegedly linked to a network transporting Iranian crude and LPG. Whether the negotiations will avert another round of US strikes against Iran remains to be seen. Diplomats from the two countries last engaged in talks in April-June 2025, before Trump ordered a bombing raid against nuclear facilities in Iran. The new tanker sanctions were announced shortly after the talks concluded in Muscat. The pattern of combining diplomacy and sanctions pressure continues the tactic deployed by Trump's administration during the previous round of US-Iran talks. Friday's sanctions also include 15 entities and individuals allegedly tied to the Iranian oil trade. The one major difference from last year's sanctions approach is a lack of enforcement against China-based entities involved in trading Iranian crude. Iranian crude cargoes mostly are delivered to buyers in China via a network of intermediaries and shadow fleet tankers and involve ship-to-ship transfers in international waters near Malaysia and Indonesia. The US is finding it difficult to fully enforce sanctions against Iranian crude because of Tehran's ability to retaliate, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on 28 January. Trump, who had ordered a US naval buildup in the Middle East, threatened military strikes against Iran, but also expressed a willingness to negotiate with Tehran. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Crude Summit: Brazilian export logistics are stretched
Crude Summit: Brazilian export logistics are stretched
New York, 4 February (Argus) — Brazilian crude exporters are working to address bottlenecks that are becoming overburdened by the country's surging exports, according to speakers at the Argus Americas Crude Summit today. The potential lack of enough dynamic positioning (DP) tankers to ferry crude from the country's offshore production sites to the coast for transfer onto standard tankers for export is "something everyone has to be worried about," said Fernando Colares Nogueira, Petrobras' head of crude oil, said at the event. Brazil's crude production climbed by 12pc year over year to 3.77mn b/d in 2025 , and is expected to rise further this year . To meet the demand, Petrobras has six of these DP tankers on order, said Nogueira, which would add to the roughly 50 that already operate along the Brazilian coast. The port of Acu is the receiving port for much of these crude-laden DP tankers, but is struggling to keep up with the rising ship-to-ship transfers happening at the port and needs "relief", said PetroChina International Trading's vice president of crude Alipio Ferreira. Petrochina is investing in improving port infrastructure across the country, including building a new terminal in Puerto Central, said Ferreira. By Nicholas Watt Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Мороз на Балтике разгоняет ставки фрахта
Мороз на Балтике разгоняет ставки фрахта
Moscow, 4 February (Argus) — Навигационная обстановка в Балтийском море в начале февраля резко осложнилась из-за формирования устойчивого ледового покрова. Это привело к увеличению времени оборачиваемости флота, что повлияет на рост ставок фрахта судов для перевозок широкой номенклатуры грузов, по словам участников рынка. С 16 февраля в акватории Большого порта Санкт-Петербург и на подходах к нему вводятся ограничения для судоходства. При толщине льда 15—30 см суда без ледового усиления и буксирно-баржевые составы не смогут двигаться без сопровождения ледокола. Для судов класса Ice1, рассчитанных на эпизодическое плавание в мелкобитом разреженном льду неарктических морей толщиной до 0,4 м вводится обязательная проводка. В свою очередь, суда класса Ice2, готовые к регулярному плаванию во льду толщиной до 0,5 м вне Арктики, могут следовать как с ледокольной поддержкой, так и самостоятельно. Аналогичный режим установлен в морском порту Усть-Луга (Ленинградская обл.). Соответствующее распоряжение капитан порта Александр Волков подписал 2 февраля, Argus ознакомился с копией документа. Суда без ледового класса могут заходить в порт только при условии индивидуальной ледокольной проводки, по информации участников рынка. Такая проводка от острова Гогланд в Финском заливе, по их оценкам, занимает не менее 12 часов на вход и столько же на выход. Стоимость услуги в обе стороны оценивается примерно в 10 млн руб., что неизбежно отразится на итоговой ставке фрахта. В результате фрахт балкеров типоразмеров Handysize (дедвейт 15—35 тыс. т) и Supramax (50—60 тыс. т) из-за возросших расходов судовладельцев может подорожать в среднем на $3—4/т, по оценке судовых брокеров. Дополнительным фактором роста станет увеличение оборачиваемости судов, что сокращает доступный тоннаж. В начале февраля ставки фрахта при перевозке калийных удобрений из Санкт-Петербурга в Бразилию партиями по 50 тыс. т оценивались участниками рынка в $38—38,50/т против $36/т месяцем ранее. Годом ранее аналогичные отправки обходились фрахтователям в $26—27/т. В регионе также наблюдается дефицит ледокольных мощностей, необходимых для всего работающего флота: пассажирского, танкерного, сухогрузного и контейнерного. Ледоколы работают с учетом приоритетов: в первую очередь обслуживаются пассажирские суда и паромы, затем — танкеры, контейнеровозы и балкеры, по информации участников рынка. Для обеспечения проводки в балтийские порты задействованы семь линейных и шесть портовых ледоколов. С начала года также выросли тарифы на индивидуальную ледокольную проводку. Участники рынка не исключают, что в случае дефицита тоннажа на Балтике фрахтователи могут задействовать суда, находящиеся в Черном и Средиземном морях. Это создаст дополнительный спрос и может подтолкнуть вверх ставки не только в Балтийском, но и в Азово-Черноморском бассейне. Артем Куприянов ___________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических материалов о рынке транспортировки навалочных, генеральных грузов и контейнеров — в ежемесячном отчете Argus Логистика сухих грузов . Подписаться на аналитический дайджест Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.
Ohio River ice chokes barge traffic
Ohio River ice chokes barge traffic
Houston, 3 February (Argus) — Ice buildup on the Ohio River is slowing barge traffic, following temporary lock shutdowns that created vessel backlogs along the waterway, according to notices from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the US Coast Guard. Severe cold weather has frozen portions of the river, making navigation difficult, especially for heavy barge tows. The Willow Island Locks and Dam in Reno, Ohio, was temporarily closed on 28 January after ice in the main chamber prevented its miter gates from operating. USACE officials said the issue was resolved on Monday afternoon and nine tows have since transitted the lock as of Tuesday. Navigation challenges, however, persist across the Ohio River. The USACE's Huntington district has imposed tow-size restrictions between miles 161.7 and 436.2. Under these limits, towboats and their assembled tows must not exceed 1,050ft in length or 105ft in width. The US Coast Guard has also issued a number of safety advisories and barge tow restrictions across multiple points along the Ohio Valley. The restrictions follow a week of extreme winter weather and hazardous ice that reduced maneuverability and limited how many barges can safely transit the river. The combination of ice, reduced tow sizes, and temporary delays is creating congestion, even with the Willow Island lock back on line. The USACE's lock queue report showed delays of nearly three days at the Willow Island locks as of Tuesday. The National Weather Service forecasts near-normal to below-normal temperatures across the western portion of the region from 8-12 February. By Sneha Kumar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
