Shipping news sentiment, February 2026

Index +0.44: 12 market news items counted (9 bullish, 3 bearish), out of 350 shipping news events from the same sources. Labels are machine-made; open the article before relying on one.

Freight rates (1)

15-year-old VLCC values jump 57% year-on-year as Sinokor linked to Teekay exit Splash247 · 23 Feb · Bullish (lower confidence, half weight) · Tankers

Demand and trade (4)

Descartes: U.S. imports rise 4.1% in Jan as China & India volumes increase All About Shipping · 9 Feb · Bullish · Containers
Record year for seaborne grains with freight boost into 2026 Splash247 · 17 Feb · Bullish (lower confidence, half weight) · Dry bulk
Liberia’s iron ore surge set to lift capesize demand Splash247 · 18 Feb · Bullish · Dry bulk
Hapag-Lloyd steals the container headlines Splash247 · 24 Feb · Bearish · Containers

Geopolitics and routes (7)

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to route one Gemini service through Red Sea Splash247 · 4 Feb · Bearish · Containers
US seizes another VLCC fleeing from Venezuela Splash247 · 16 Feb · Bullish (lower confidence, half weight) · Tankers
French let shadow aframax depart from Marseille Splash247 · 18 Feb · Bearish (lower confidence, half weight) · Tankers
UK hits shadow fleet and LNG trades in fresh Russia sanctions push Splash247 · 25 Feb · Bullish (lower confidence, half weight) · Tankers
US sanctions 12 more Iranian-linked vessels Splash247 · 26 Feb · Bullish (lower confidence, half weight) · Tankers
Houthis vow to resume attacks following Iranian strikes Splash247 · 28 Feb · Bullish · Several segments
Strikes on Iran: U.S. Maritime Alert released Marine Log · 28 Feb · Bullish · Several segments

Method and limits