Articles
Neutral, dated analysis and explainers across Iran’s markets.
Persian Gulf-to-Asia Supertanker Rates Hit $510,000 a Day, Highest Since Late June, Right as the Iran-US 60-Day Ceasefire Lapses (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)
Daily charter rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on the Persian Gulf-to-Asia route jumped to as high as $510,000 a day this week, the highest since late June. Per Bloomberg, one VLCC was chartered this week for $31 million to haul crude from the Gulf to East Asia, while only about 25 of the world's 486 VLCCs are willing to load in the Gulf. The surge coincides with the unextended lapse of the Iran-US 60-day ceasefire on Monday, August 17.
UAE Oil Output Hit a Record 4.1 Million Barrels a Day in June; ADNOC Has Sold Over 90 Million Barrels by Routing Around Hormuz (Wednesday, August 12, 2026)
Citing International Energy Agency estimates, Oilprice.com reports UAE crude output jumped from 3.3 million barrels a day in May to a record 4.1 million bpd in June. Since June, ADNOC has sold more than 90 million barrels via eight spot tenders that route around the Strait of Hormuz, even as Bank of America says only 5 to 10 ships a day now transit the Strait, versus about 140 before the war.
Brent Crude Jumps Nearly 5% in a Day to Top $87 as Iran Ties Hormuz Reopening to Six Conditions and Houthis Claim Drone Strike on Saudi Jazan Refinery (Monday, August 10, 2026)
By Monday evening, August 10, 2026 (19 Mordad 1405), Brent crude had jumped nearly 5% to top $87 a barrel. Sahmino's own feed put it at $87.25 at 20:37 Tehran time, in line with TGJU ($87.48) and Oilprice.com ($87.37). The trigger: Iran's Supreme National Security Council tied any Hormuz reopening to six conditions, while Yemen's Houthis claimed a drone strike on Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery.
US Economy Shed 23,000 Jobs in July; Gold Jumps 2.7% to $4,355, Silver Up 4.25% (Friday, August 7, 2026)
The US jobs report for July showed the economy lost 23,000 jobs, against forecasts of roughly 80,000 to 83,000 new jobs; the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell from 4.2% to 4.1%, but only as labor force participation dropped to its lowest since 2021. In reaction, spot gold jumped about 2.7% to $4,355.04 on Friday, August 7, 2026, and silver rose 4.25% to the $64.20 area.
Six Saudi Tankers Take the 56 Day Route Around Africa; Cost Per Voyage Rises by 2 to 2.5 Million Dollars (Monday, 3 August 2026)
Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported on Monday, 3 August 2026 that a Saudi tanker sailing via the Cape of Good Hope will take 56 days, against 24 days through Bab el-Mandeb; cost per voyage is up by 2 to 2.5 million dollars and at least six tankers have rerouted. The same day Brent fell 5.34 percent to 83.47 dollars. The paper market priced de-escalation while the physical map of oil transport moved the other way.
