GENERAL15 Sept 2026
It Costs a Record $44.8 Million to Ship US Crude Oil to Asia | Stock Market News
Shipping US crude to Asia just hit a record. Hiring a very large crude carrier (VLCC) for 2 million barrels now costs about $44.8 million, up from $39 million a day earlier and $17.8 million before the Iran war. Middle East supply disruptions and Saudi Arabia's pipeline closure are pushing Asian buyers toward American oil. Expect higher freight and fuel costs to feed into your landed costs.
Key Statutory Highlights
- It cost about $44.8 million to hire a very large crude carrier for 2 million barrels of crude from the US Gulf Coast to China, an all-time high.
- That cost was $39 million just a day earlier and about $17.8 million before the Iran war broke out in late February.
- Saudi Arabia closed the East-West pipeline, and six very large crude carriers are set to load US Gulf Coast crude for Asia in October.
Actionable Advice for Taxpayers / Founders:If you import fuel, freight or oil-linked materials, review your landed cost and pricing assumptions with your finance team now, and keep a buffer for further freight swings rather than locking in fixed rates.
Statutory Disclaimer: TaxQue Shorts are AI-assisted editorial briefs for compliance awareness. This brief has not passed every source check; confirm the original notification before acting. This does not constitute formal legal or CA counsel.
TaxQue News Desk
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