A shipowner's bold wager on oil tankers has created an unprecedented concentration of power in the global shipping market. The company now controls an overwhelming majority of supertankers capable of collecting American oil next month, effectively locking up the US Gulf Coast export capacity.

This once-in-a-generation bet has transformed the shipowner into a dominant force in the oil tanker industry. By securing control over the majority of vessels that can access American crude, the company has created a bottleneck that could influence global oil prices and shipping rates. The timing is particularly significant as US oil exports continue to grow.

The market implications are substantial. With such concentrated control over the vessels that transport American crude to international markets, the shipowner could potentially influence both shipping costs and the flow of US oil exports. This level of market power raises questions about competition and pricing in the global oil shipping industry.