Investor and CEO Ivan Kroshnyi has analyzed the current situation in the Middle East, which continues to rapidly reshape the global maritime logistics map. While some market players are tallying losses from delays, others are securing record profits amid a sharp shortage of shipping capacity.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the key beneficiaries and market trends according to the expert's analysis.
Currently, shares of shipping and tanker companies are showing steady growth. The closure of key routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal is reducing overall capacity, which in turn raises expectations for a sharp increase in freight rates.
Performance of key industry players:
Maersk (Danish giant): +7.9%
Hapag-Lloyd (Germany): +5.9%
Nordic American Tankers (USA): +4.8%
According to reports from The Guardian, leading mutual marine insurance companies (including Norway's Gard and Skuld, Britain's North Standard and London P&I Club, and New York's American Club) have announced the cancellation of war risk insurance for vessels operating in the region. Starting March 5, coverage for costs and damages caused by war, terrorism, and piracy will be canceled in Iranian waters, the Persian Gulf, and adjacent areas.
Industry experts, including Peter Hullear (Marsh), note that this specifically affects "non-poolable" war cover, which is often required for higher-risk cases like chartered vessels. The cancellation notices from major markets, including Lloyd's of London, are intended to give insurers time to assess the heightened risks in the Middle East and fundamentally revise their tariffs.
Insurance rates are projected to rise by 50–100% or more—climbing from the usual 0.25% to 1% of the insured asset's value. Transportation costs have already reacted sharply:
Container rates from Shanghai to Jebel Ali (Dubai) surged from $1,800 to approximately $3,700 per 40-foot container in just a few days.
In response to threats in the Red Sea, giants like Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM have redirected their voyages around Africa. Danish company Norden has suspended new transits through the Strait of Hormuz, while CMA CGM has introduced an "emergency conflict surcharge" ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 per container.
Ivan Kroshnyi highlights Frontline as one of the most promising players in the current climate. As a leader in crude oil transportation, the company anticipated the growing imbalance between rising oil demand and limited fleet supply—a trend that continues into Q1 2026.
Frontline views this period as potentially unprecedented for the tanker industry. The company's strategy includes a proactive fleet renewal program and the securing of high fixed income.
Key highlights from Frontline's latest report:
Freight Income (TCE): The average daily income for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) reached $74,200.
Fleet Renewal: The company successfully agreed to sell eight older first-generation tankers for $831.5 million, while simultaneously acquiring nine new last-generation VLCCs for $1.22 billion.
Time Charters: Annual contracts have been signed for seven vessels at an average rate of $76,900 per day, with some modern tankers securing rates as high as $93,500 per day.
Read more research, investment ideas, and reviews on Ivan Kroshnyi's website.
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