Rumours currently suggest that an unnamed Aframax tanker has been fixed at a record-breaking daily rate of $950,000 per day .
The deal is described as an “eye-watering” and record-setting rate for the Aframax sector.
The voyage is reportedly for a short lightering trip in the US Gulf.
The rate surge is attributed to ongoing disruptions in the Middle East that have significantly tightened the global tanker market.
Standard Aframax rates have been highly volatile, with North Sea-to-Continent rates recently settling around $95,000 per day.
Regional spikes have seen daily round-trip earnings reach approximately $144,500 in the North Sea and $127,200 in the Mediterranean earlier in March 2026.
A similar spike occurred in 2022, when specific routes (like those from Russian ports) reached roughly $350,000 per day due to self-sanctioning and lack of available tonnage.
Aframax tankers typically have a capacity between 80,000 and 120,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt).
They are primarily used for regional transport and can carry between 500,000 and 800,000 barrels of crude oil.
Note By Alessandro Bazzoni