Tanker owners looking to invest in new tonnage might have to bite the bullet and accept higher newbuilding prices, a top shipbroker has warned.

Steel prices reached multi-year highs in May and although they have since eased back, values remain above levels seen between 2016 and 2020, according to Gibson Shipbrokers.

“Shipping has not been immune, with newbuild prices moving up in tandem," the shipbroker said.