In a dramatic reconfiguration of global shipping routes, hundreds of oil tankers have moved westward, fundamentally altering trade patterns, according to Rahul Kapoor, Vice President and Head of Shipping Analytics & Research at S&P Global Energy.
Speaking on the Daily Energy Markets podcast, Kapoor highlighted the significant shift as tankers abandon traditional routes, driven by geopolitical tensions and changing demand dynamics. The relocation is reshaping supply chains and could have lasting implications for energy markets worldwide.
“Hundreds of tankers have shifted west, fundamentally reshaping global shipping and trade flows,” Kapoor said, underscoring the scale of the movement.
The podcast episode, part of the Mashreq 60 series, was produced by Gulf Intelligence and published on April 29, 2026.