The cost of shipping US crude oil to Asia has reached an unprecedented high as buyers intensely seek to secure energy shipments amidst increasing supply disruptions in the Middle East. As of Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the expense to charter a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) to transport 2 million barrels of crude from the US Gulf Coast to China stood at approximately $44.8 million, according to data from the Baltic Exchange. This marks an all-time high, representing a significant increase from $39 million just one day prior.
Prior to the outbreak of the war in Iran in late February, the same shipping route cost about $17.8 million. The current surge reflects the severe impact of ongoing geopolitical tensions on global energy supply chains, pushing transportation costs to levels not seen before. This escalation underscores the heightened demand and anxiety in the market for secure crude deliveries.
