Greek shipowners are emerging as the undisputed leaders of the global tanker market, capitalizing on the strong rally in ship values to sell older vessels at prices reminiscent of the “golden age” of 2008, while simultaneously aggressively building the new generation of fleets through massive orders for newly built vessels.
According to data from Veson Nautical, Greece now has the most valuable operational tanker fleet in the world, with a total value of $66.38 billion, leaving China behind by more than $26 billion. At the same time, Greek shipowners dominate both the buying and selling of second-hand vessels and new orders, confirming that they continue to set the balance in global shipping.
On the sales side, Evalend Shipping, Top Ships, and Atlas Maritime have been the most active, with transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars since the beginning of 2026. The strategy of capitalizing on high valuations allows Greek shipowners to recycle capital and shift toward newer and more technologically advanced vessels.
In the markets, Minerva Marine, Thenamaris, and Okeanis Eco Tankers have already invested over $740 million in modern tonnage, with an emphasis on newly built and recently constructed high-specification vessels.
The picture in the orderbook is even more impressive. Greece has the largest tanker construction program in the world, with a total value of nearly $40 billion—more than four times that of China. Dynacom Tankers stands out as the leader , with 36 ships on order worth $3.8 billion, while the Greek companies Venergy Maritime and Capital Ship Management also feature among the top five companies globally.
This year’s surge in orders is focused primarily on VLCCs, with 139 new orders worldwide since the beginning of the year, a figure that reflects both the strength of the crude oil market and expectations of strong demand for maritime transport in the coming years.