2026 Oil Market Outlook

We’re excited to kick off the new year with the launch of our 2026 Oil Market Outlook, Vantage’s annual deep dive into what’s shaping the year ahead for oil and tanker markets.

From a look at major economies, changes to demand and supply growth to shifting trade flows and freight trends, this year’s Outlook unpacks how an expected oversupply of crude and evolving geopolitics could set the tone for prices, tonne-miles, and tanker earnings.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside:

- Our take on the widening divide between forecasters on oil demand and price recovery.

- Key trade route changes as refining capacity and sanctions keep redrawing the map.

- Freight market insights, from flat rate updates to bunker cost assumptions and fleet growth risks.

2026 is shaping up to be a year of plenty — maybe even too much of it — so we break down what that means for shipowners, charterers, and traders navigating another complex market.

The full journal is now available to our clients and partners. If you’d like a copy or want to chat with our Research team about the findings, drop us a message at Research@vntg-corp.com.