New US sanctions against Moscow and Iran have increased oil prices
Following the imposition of new US sanctions on several Russian oil companies and 183 tankers carrying Russian and Iranian oil this past Saturday, the transit rate of oil from the Middle East to China rose by 39%, and the oil prices of the Arab Gulf countries also increased.
Reuters news agency announced on Tuesday, January 15, that the current freight rate for large tankers capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil has surged to $37,800, which is a 39% increase compared to last Friday.
On January 12, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned 183 tankers carrying Russian oil to China and India, at least eight of which were also involved in smuggling Iranian oil.
Data from Lloyd’s shipping company shows that currently, 35% of the 669 tankers known as the shadow fleet or ghost fleet, which are secretly involved in smuggling oil from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, have been sanctioned by the US.
