Weak tanker rates and middling utilisation levels may mean major tanker owners have trouble hitting third-quarter revenue numbers, a UBS report says.

The major publicly list tanker owners, Euronav, DHT Holdings and Gener8 Maritime, continue to see a tough operating environment as Opec tries again to cut production and newbuilding deliveries weigh on the market.

Cargo tracking firm Kpler says Opec crude oil tanker loadings last month dropped close to 4% to 25 million barrels per day.