ADNOC Acquires Five Supertankers Amid Hormuz Shipping Disruptions
Abu Dhabi's national oil company, ADNOC, has acquired five very large crude carriers (VLCCs) for $590 million to manage its crude deliveries amid shipping disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis. The purchase from Frontline Plc is part of a broader strategy as the UAE increases production and exports following its exit from OPEC earlier this year. The move comes at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been stalled, prompting ADNOC to adapt with alternative shipping routes such as 'dark mode' tankers. In June 2026, UAE crude oil output reached an all-time high of 4.1 million barrels per day (bpd), nearly double its March levels and surpassing previous records from the OPEC+ price war in early 2020. ADNOC is also expanding its liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier fleet, having recently placed a $900-million order for four newbuild LNG carriers to capitalize on rising global demand.
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Topics: geopolitics oil shipping supertankers