AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
FRA
GER
ESP
ITA
NLD
PRT
SWE
GRC
IND
POL
BRA
ZAF
RUS
CHN
UAE
[Tugboat and Zim Freighter] dbvirago Which shipping stocks are most exposed to the ongoing Middle East crisis? Seeking Alpha analysts Soroya Investments [https://seekingalpha.com/author/soroya-investments] and Melissa Tucker [https://seekingalpha.com/author/melissa-tucker] weigh in. Soroya Investments [https://seekingalpha.com/author/soroya-investments]: Container shipping, in general, is sensitive to shocks in the supply chain. Carriers like ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZIM]) and Maersk (OTCPK:AMKBY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMKBY]) (OTCPK:AMKBF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMKBF]) (OTCPK:AMKAF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMKAF]) are particularly exposed because of their Israeli presence. Iran-Israel relations seem unlikely to reach anything similar to normalization in the near term. While Iran is not currently targeting commercial shipping, the 2024 MSC Aries incident is still fresh on shippers' minds.
Melissa Tucker [https://seekingalpha.com/author/melissa-tucker]: Shipping companies that transport energy are the most exposed (crude oil, products, LPG and LNG) since more than 20% of seaborne energy exports transit the Strait of Hormuz. While I don’t expect any closure, if the situation escalates, Iran could try to replicate the Houthi playbook in the Strait of Hormuz, where most of western shipping doesn’t transit due to prudence. In that scenario, besides LPG, the most affected ones will be VLCC [Very Large Crude Carrier] and product tanker companies. Examples are Frontline (NYSE:FRO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FRO]), Okeanis Eco Tankers (NYSE:ECO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ECO]), TORM (NASDAQ:TRMD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TRMD]) and Hafnia (NYSE:HAFN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HAFN]). On the other hand, if the recent ceasefire leads to the removal of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, it will be a clear benefit for VLCC owners.
Currently, Iran uses its own dark fleet to transport its oil, and has to do costly STS transfers to deliver it to China. If sanctions are removed, legit tankers could carry Iranian oil, which will tighten the fleet and increase the rates. The stocks that will benefit the most are Frontline (NYSE:FRO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FRO]) and Okeanis Eco Tankers (NYSE:ECO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ECO]). * Top Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Stocks [https://seekingalpha.com/screeners/9409af1a9b-Top-Oil-and-Gas-Storage-and-Transportation-Stocks] * Top Marine Transportation Stocks [https://seekingalpha.com/screeners/9409aed819-Top-Marine-Transportation-Stocks] * MORE ON ZIM INTEGRATED, FRONTLINE, ETC. * ZIM Integrated Shipping: Promised Cost Reductions Nowhere To Be Found, Yet (Rating Downgrade) [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4797371-zim-integrated-shipping-promised-cost-reductions-nowhere-to-be-found-yet-rating-downgrade] * Frontline May Have Calmer Seas Ahead Of It [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4796769-frontline-may-have-calmer-seas-ahead-of-it] * Hafnia: Profitability And Value In Each Kilometer Sailed [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4796274-hafnia-profitability-and-value-in-each-kilometer-sailed] * Oil flows through Strait of Hormuz rebound as security fears calm [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4462488-oil-flows-through-strait-of-hormuz-rebound-as-security-fears-calm] * Oil tanker rates jump to highest since 2023 after U.S.
air strikes on Iran [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4461185-oil-tanker-rates-jump-to-highest-since-2023-after-us-air-strikes-on-iran]
SA Asks: Which shipping stocks are most exposed to the Mideast crisis?
June 27, 2025 11:30 AM PDT | By EODHD
