COSCO SHIP ENGY (01138) climbed more than 6% again, bringing its year-to-date increase to nearly 80%. At the time of writing, the stock was up 6.48% to HK$17.25, with a turnover of HK$82.1546 million. On the news front, reports indicate that U.S. government officials are considering seizing tankers transporting Iranian oil to pressure Iran, though Washington is also concerned such actions could provoke retaliatory measures from Tehran. According to the report, more than 20 vessels carrying Iranian oil have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department this year, making them potential targets for seizure. Guotai Haitong Securities noted in a research report that since August 2025, increased crude oil production and stricter sanctions on Russian oil have driven tanker capacity utilization rates higher, significantly raising the baseline for tanker freight rates and increasing price volatility. Since 2026, geopolitical tensions have intensified, boosting shipowner sentiment, with some overseas owners increasing chartering activities to control the market. Recently, tanker freight rates have remained elevated. Last week, VLCC TCE rates for the Middle East-China route stayed above $120,000. The report suggests that shipowner sentiment is likely to continue influencing short-term freight rates and recommends monitoring the year-on-year upward trend in baseline rates. It is projected that tanker profits in the first quarter of 2026 will surge several times compared to the same period last year.