COSCO SHIP ENGY (01138) surged more than 6% during the session, last trading 5.07% higher at HK$14.91, with turnover reaching HK$146 million.

The catalyst came from U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent, who expressed optimism on the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in a recent interview. Bessent noted that despite elevated geopolitical risks, the U.S. and Iran could reach an agreement as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, paving the way for resumed navigation through the strategic waterway.

Guosen Securities recently highlighted that if the Strait of Hormuz resumes normal traffic, the medium-term outlook for VLCC freight rates could see a systematic upward shift in the second half of the year. This would be driven by a gradual return of regional cargo volumes and a global restocking cycle, suggesting any near-term rate pullback is a matter of timing rather than a reversal of the trend.

Huayuan Securities previously pointed out that the Middle East geopolitical situation is at a crossroads. Both the U.S. and Iran could either maintain a dual-strait blockade to exert pressure or de-escalate tensions and lift the blockade after continued standoffs. In either scenario, the oil shipping sector is poised to benefit, with significant upside potential for freight rate benchmarks. Notably, whether through a blockade or a geopolitical easing, compliant VLCC capacity demand could surge by over 20%.

With oil shipping fundamentals steadily improving, coupled with the "long-term structural factors" and geopolitical catalysts, the sector may be entering a "golden era of oil tanker shipping."