Who Are the Core Customers in International Seaways Company's Target Market?

International Seaways target customers center on blue-chip oil supermajors such as Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil and NOCs like Saudi Aramco and Petrobras; these charterers drive high-volume long-term demand and strict safety vetting, often accounting for the largest single-client revenue buckets.

Secondary but vital maritime shipping customers include Trafigura, Vitol, major commodity trading houses, and independent refiners; they book both time-charter and voyage business, using International Seaways' diversified fleet of over 75 vessels to move crude and clean products across complex routes.

International Seaways mainly serves institutional buyers and corporate clients – business-to-business charterers rather than retail consumers – spanning state-owned enterprises, private oil majors, refiners, and trading houses that manage global supply chains.

The most important segment is long-term charter contracts with supermajors and NOCs: these provide revenue stability and higher utilization; in 2025, time-charter and contract-covered employment helped sustain fleet utilization near industry averages and supported International Seaways' revenue mix skewed to recurring contracts (see Ownership and Control of International Seaways Company for ownership context).

Long-haul routes from the US Gulf Coast, Brazil, and Guyana to China and Southeast Asia drive the largest ton-mile demand for International Seaways target market because voyages are longer and rates rise with distance; VLCC and Suezmax fleets capture most of this volume.

Refined product tankers see surging demand across the Atlantic Basin and Latin America as regional refining capacity lags consumption; refiners and petrochemical companies, plus charterers and commodity traders, are key maritime shipping customers here.

International Seaways core customers include oil majors, refiners, and commodity traders that charter VLCCs and Suezmaxes; the company's fleet mix and long-haul exposure give it a revenue edge – ~65% of 2025 voyage revenues tied to long-haul crude routes (company-reported mix).

Transport of refined fuels to emerging markets in Africa and Southeast Asia grew fastest in 2025, with regional import volumes up an estimated 8 – 12% year-over-year where industrialization outpaces local energy infrastructure; long-term charter interest from institutional buyers and state-owned enterprises rose alongside spot activity.

International Seaways expands its customer base by selling older vessels and reinvesting in efficient, dual-fuel ready ships that meet charterers' 15-year age limits, enabling access to oil majors, refiners, and large tanker shipping clients across primary trade lanes.

With a net loan-to-value ratio below 20 percent in 2025, International Seaways has liquidity to acquire distressed tonnage or order newbuilds when cycles favor buyers, broadening its addressable market among charterers and commodity traders.

Consistent fleet utilization above 95 percent and operational reliability reduce churn among long-term charter and spot customers, keeping shipping brokers and institutional buyers returning for predictable service.

Repeat business from Tier 1 charterers, refiners, and commodity traders is driven by credit-quality relationships and on-time performance; International Seaways has returned over 1 billion dollars to shareholders through 2025, signaling capital discipline that strengthens customer trust.

The strongest lever is constrained global tanker supply plus ton-mile growth, which positions International Seaways to capture premium rates from loyal, high-credit-quality customers and win longer-term charters from oil majors and refiners.

Commercial strategies prioritize Tier 1 charterers, commodity traders, and regional refiners; business development targets adjacent segments such as petrochemical shipments and government-backed buyers while maintaining stringent vessel-age standards to retain core customers. Read more on company direction in Mission, Vision, and Values of International Seaways Company.