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.