There is no question that tankers had a great 2015. But an even greater 2016 will be a challenge, analysts say.

Spurred by low prices, crude oil saw growing demand last year as China filled up its crude reserves and global refineries ran harder than ever before, creating more products for export markets.

Those factors helped push utilisation rates up to 90% for dirty and clean tankers, says Omar Nokta, an analyst for Clarksons Platou Securities.