Newsletters | Request Trial | Log in | Advertise | Digital Issue   |   Search
  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search
Related Articles
LNG faces growing shipping constraints
New regulations are likely to restrict an already limited pool of vessels capable of transporting gas
Ukraine fallout continues to support tanker freight rates
Freight rates for clean tankers—the specialist vessels that transport refined petroleum products—reached multi-year highs in 2022 and are likely to remain strong going into 2023
Letter from China: Anger erupts at Covid policy
The revolt against zero-Covid is significant but is unlikely to sway Beijing this winter
Freight struggles with regulatory uncertainty
Lack of clarity is affecting demand for new tankers, but LNG vessel orders are booming
Letter from Beijing: Refiners hoping for summer rebound
Easing of Covid restrictions looks set to lead to surge in domestic travel
Russia-linked tankers ‘going dark’
Shipping analysts Windward see a rise in suspicious activity by Russia-affiliated vessels since start of Ukraine war
Market vagaries may still buffet merging tanker heavyweights
Frontline-Euronav deal will create one of the world’s largest tanker fleets, but price-setting power may remain outside the combination’s reach
Tanker market feels impact of Ukraine crisis
The tanker freight market is having to deal with sanctions, uncertainties and shifting trade flows in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion
Letter from Beijing: Covid relapse threatens demand
China’s rebounding appetite for energy is being undermined by fresh lockdowns and quarantine measures
Marine fuel market enters troubled waters
Ripple effect from Russia’s war in Ukraine may result in significant supply disruption
Shipping Covid-19 IMO 2020
Josh Lowell
11 January 2021
Follow @PetroleumEcon
Forward article link
Share PDF with colleagues

More change ahead for the shipping sector

An unwinding of some Covid-related effects might challenge VLSFO’s initial IMO 2020 win

It is easy to overlook, amid the fallout from and response to Covid-19, the seismic shift that fundamentally altered the global bunker industry over the last year. At the beginning of January, the permissible sulphur content of marine fuels was lowered from 3.5pc to 0.5pc, a seemingly small regulatory change with lasting implications across multiple industries. IMO 2020, as the regulation is known, has forever transformed the global bunker market, although many of the more dire expectations surrounding the regulation have been temporarily blunted by the market reaction to Covid-19. One year after its rollout, the bunker market remains in a precarious position. The new sulphur standard has s

Also in this section
Trump’s Russia threat rings hollow
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
US oil sector faces complicated path
24 July 2025
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand
Brazil looks to solve its energy security travails
24 July 2025
Despite significant crude projections over the next five years, Latin America’s largest economy could be forced to start importing unless action is taken
India ready for turbulent times
23 July 2025
The country’s energy minister explains in an exclusive interview how the country is taking a pragmatic and far-sighted approach to energy security and why he has great confidence in its oil sector

Share PDF with colleagues

Rich Text Editor, message-text
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: PDF sharing is permitted internally for Petroleum Economist Gold Members only. Usage of this PDF is restricted by <%= If(IsLoggedIn, User.CompanyName, "")%>’s agreement with Petroleum Economist – exceeding the terms of your licence by forwarding outside of the company or placing on any external network is considered a breach of copyright. Such instances are punishable by fines of up to US$1,500 per infringement
Send

Forward article Link

Rich Text Editor, txt-link-message
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
Send
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Project Data
Maps
Podcasts
Social Links
Featured Video
Home
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Reaching your audience
  • PE Store
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact us
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookies
  • Sitemap
All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws © 2025 The Petroleum Economist Ltd
Cookie Settings
;

Search

  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search