Escalating Risks Disrupt Shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 02 2026
0mins
Should l Buy INSW?
Source: CNBC
- Shipping Suspension: Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Maersk has announced a halt to all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz, warning of delays for services to Arabian Gulf ports, which could significantly disrupt global trade flows.
- Oil and Gas Trade Impact: In 2023, oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 20.9 million barrels per day, accounting for 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption, and any disruption in this route is likely to drive up global energy prices and create supply delays.
- Rising Shipping Costs: With escalating tensions, analysts predict higher container shipping rates in the Middle East, as the industry faces increasing geopolitical risks that compel shipping companies to reassess their operational strategies.
- Enhanced Safety Measures: Companies like Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM have suspended all sailings through the Strait of Hormuz and directed vessels to safe areas, reflecting a heightened focus on crew safety and further exacerbating uncertainties in the shipping market.
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Analyst Views on INSW
Wall Street analysts forecast INSW stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 75.760
Low
57.00
Averages
58.00
High
60.00
Current: 75.760
Low
57.00
Averages
58.00
High
60.00
About INSW
International Seaways, Inc. is a tanker company engaged in providing energy transportation services for crude oil and petroleum products in international flag markets. The Company operates through two segments: Crude Tankers and Product Carriers. The Crude Tankers segment is made up of a fleet of VLCCs, Suezmaxes, and Aframaxes engaged in the worldwide transportation of crude oil. This segment also includes its Crude Tankers Lightering business through which it provides ship-to-ship (STS) lightering support services and full-service STS lightering to customers in the United States Gulf (USG), United States Pacific, Grand Bahama, and Panama regions. The Product Carriers segment consists of a fleet of MRs, LR1 product carriers, and an LR2 product carrier engaged in the worldwide transportation of refined petroleum products. It owns and operates a fleet of about 84 vessels, including 11 VLCCs, 13 Suezmaxes, five Aframaxes/LR2s, 14 LR1s (including six new buildings), and 41 MR tankers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
US Sinks Iranian Ships Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
- Military Escalation: The U.S. Central Command reported that American forces sank several Iranian ships, including 16 minelayers, near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, responding to Iran's threat of mining the waterway, which could severely impact global energy supplies.
- Oil Price Volatility: Oil prices surged to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday due to escalating conflict, although they have since retreated, with U.S. WTI crude trading at $83.8 and global benchmark Brent at $87.9, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Iranian Naval Capability: Despite CNN's report of Iran laying a few mines recently in the Strait, Iran retains over 80% of its small boats and minelayers, potentially laying hundreds of mines, which could further escalate regional tensions.
- U.S. Navy Response Strategy: President Trump stated he ordered the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance for all maritime trade through the Gulf, although the U.S. Navy has declined shipping industry requests for escort due to high attack risks, potentially affecting energy transport security.
See More
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Rise, Oil Prices Surge
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel due to escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting market fears of supply disruptions that could lead to increased global energy costs and economic impacts.
- Iran's Military Stance: The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that attacks on U.S. military bases in the Gulf are legitimate under international law, a position that may escalate regional tensions and affect international relations.
- New Leadership Impact: The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new Supreme Leader is expected to unify the nation, with the spokesperson asserting that state institutions and the populace will rally around the new leadership, potentially leading to a more aggressive foreign policy.
- Sovereignty and International Law: Iran emphasized its right to choose its leaders without foreign intervention, asserting its commitment to defending national sovereignty under international law, which may provoke widespread attention and reactions from the international community.
See More
Kuwait Cuts Oil Production Amid Iran Threats
- Production Cuts: Kuwait has implemented oil production and refining cuts due to threats from Iran that have halted tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz, although the exact volume of cuts remains undisclosed, this precautionary measure will be reviewed as the situation evolves.
- OPEC Impact: As the fifth-largest oil producer in OPEC, Kuwait produced approximately 2.6 million barrels per day in January, and these cuts could significantly impact global oil supply, especially with the Strait of Hormuz closed, potentially leading to soaring oil prices.
- Market Reaction: Oil prices surged about 35% this week due to disruptions in global energy supplies caused by the Iran conflict, with Brent crude futures rising 8.52%, marking the largest weekly gain in history, indicating the market's sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Storage Crisis: With oil barrels piling up in the Middle East, Gulf Arab countries face the risk of exhausting storage capacity, as Iraq has already cut 1.5 million barrels per day, and if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for over three weeks, more countries may shut down production, further driving up prices.
See More
No Timeline for Safe Passage in Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Surging Oil Prices: U.S. oil prices have surged 28% this week to over $86 per barrel due to Iranian attacks on tankers, while Brent crude has risen 22% to $89, with analysts warning that prolonged closure of the Strait could push prices above $100, potentially triggering a global recession.
- Transport Disruptions: Normally, about 100 tankers pass through the Strait daily, but currently, around 400 are stuck in the Gulf due to the conflict, severely impacting global crude transportation and threatening supply chain stability.
- U.S. Navy Escort Commitment: President Trump has pledged to deploy the Navy to escort tankers if necessary and provide political risk insurance to owners, which calmed the market temporarily; however, analysts emphasize that restoring safe passage will require time and confidence in reduced Iranian military threats.
- Production Cut Risks: With the Strait of Hormuz inactive, Iraq has already cut production by 1.5 million barrels per day, and analysts warn that if the situation persists, Brent prices could spike to $120, exacerbating pressures on the global oil market.
See More
International Seaways Stock Trend Analysis
- Price Growth Trend: International Seaways (INSW) has seen a 52.7% increase in stock price over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investors' sustained confidence in its potential upside, thereby enhancing its appeal for short-term investors.
- Stable Short-Term Performance: The stock has risen 23.9% in the last four weeks, further confirming the continuity of its price trend, indicating that the stock still possesses strong upward momentum in the near term.
- Strong Technical Indicators: Currently, INSW is trading at 94.4% of its 52-week high-low range, suggesting it may be on the verge of a breakout, attracting more investor attention.
- Ratings and Recommendations: With a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) and an average broker recommendation of #1 (Strong Buy), INSW indicates high market optimism regarding its future performance, potentially driving further stock price increases.
See More
U.S. to Support Oil Trade in the Gulf
- Oil Price Decline: U.S. crude oil prices fell 1.1% to $73.74 per barrel on Wednesday, marking the first drop since the U.S. initiated military actions against Iran, indicating market concerns over future developments.
- Government Support Measures: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration will provide insurance for oil tankers in the Gulf through the International Development Finance Corporation and promised naval escorts if necessary, aiming to restore market confidence.
- Strait of Hormuz Traffic Standstill: Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a halt as ship owners fear Iranian retaliatory strikes, with the strait being the world's most critical chokepoint for oil trade, accounting for about 20% of global oil consumption.
- Market Reaction: Despite a 6% and 5% increase in U.S. crude prices on Monday and Tuesday respectively, market sentiment turned cautious following Bessent's announcement of further support measures, leading to a decline in oil prices.
See More
US Sinks Iranian Ships Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
- Military Escalation: The U.S. Central Command reported that American forces sank several Iranian ships, including 16 minelayers, near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, responding to Iran's threat of mining the waterway, which could severely impact global energy supplies.
- Oil Price Volatility: Oil prices surged to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday due to escalating conflict, although they have since retreated, with U.S. WTI crude trading at $83.8 and global benchmark Brent at $87.9, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Iranian Naval Capability: Despite CNN's report of Iran laying a few mines recently in the Strait, Iran retains over 80% of its small boats and minelayers, potentially laying hundreds of mines, which could further escalate regional tensions.
- U.S. Navy Response Strategy: President Trump stated he ordered the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance for all maritime trade through the Gulf, although the U.S. Navy has declined shipping industry requests for escort due to high attack risks, potentially affecting energy transport security.
See More
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Rise, Oil Prices Surge
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel due to escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting market fears of supply disruptions that could lead to increased global energy costs and economic impacts.
- Iran's Military Stance: The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that attacks on U.S. military bases in the Gulf are legitimate under international law, a position that may escalate regional tensions and affect international relations.
- New Leadership Impact: The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new Supreme Leader is expected to unify the nation, with the spokesperson asserting that state institutions and the populace will rally around the new leadership, potentially leading to a more aggressive foreign policy.
- Sovereignty and International Law: Iran emphasized its right to choose its leaders without foreign intervention, asserting its commitment to defending national sovereignty under international law, which may provoke widespread attention and reactions from the international community.
See More
Kuwait Cuts Oil Production Amid Iran Threats
- Production Cuts: Kuwait has implemented oil production and refining cuts due to threats from Iran that have halted tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz, although the exact volume of cuts remains undisclosed, this precautionary measure will be reviewed as the situation evolves.
- OPEC Impact: As the fifth-largest oil producer in OPEC, Kuwait produced approximately 2.6 million barrels per day in January, and these cuts could significantly impact global oil supply, especially with the Strait of Hormuz closed, potentially leading to soaring oil prices.
- Market Reaction: Oil prices surged about 35% this week due to disruptions in global energy supplies caused by the Iran conflict, with Brent crude futures rising 8.52%, marking the largest weekly gain in history, indicating the market's sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Storage Crisis: With oil barrels piling up in the Middle East, Gulf Arab countries face the risk of exhausting storage capacity, as Iraq has already cut 1.5 million barrels per day, and if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for over three weeks, more countries may shut down production, further driving up prices.
See More
No Timeline for Safe Passage in Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Surging Oil Prices: U.S. oil prices have surged 28% this week to over $86 per barrel due to Iranian attacks on tankers, while Brent crude has risen 22% to $89, with analysts warning that prolonged closure of the Strait could push prices above $100, potentially triggering a global recession.
- Transport Disruptions: Normally, about 100 tankers pass through the Strait daily, but currently, around 400 are stuck in the Gulf due to the conflict, severely impacting global crude transportation and threatening supply chain stability.
- U.S. Navy Escort Commitment: President Trump has pledged to deploy the Navy to escort tankers if necessary and provide political risk insurance to owners, which calmed the market temporarily; however, analysts emphasize that restoring safe passage will require time and confidence in reduced Iranian military threats.
- Production Cut Risks: With the Strait of Hormuz inactive, Iraq has already cut production by 1.5 million barrels per day, and analysts warn that if the situation persists, Brent prices could spike to $120, exacerbating pressures on the global oil market.
See More
International Seaways Stock Trend Analysis
- Price Growth Trend: International Seaways (INSW) has seen a 52.7% increase in stock price over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investors' sustained confidence in its potential upside, thereby enhancing its appeal for short-term investors.
- Stable Short-Term Performance: The stock has risen 23.9% in the last four weeks, further confirming the continuity of its price trend, indicating that the stock still possesses strong upward momentum in the near term.
- Strong Technical Indicators: Currently, INSW is trading at 94.4% of its 52-week high-low range, suggesting it may be on the verge of a breakout, attracting more investor attention.
- Ratings and Recommendations: With a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) and an average broker recommendation of #1 (Strong Buy), INSW indicates high market optimism regarding its future performance, potentially driving further stock price increases.
See More
U.S. to Support Oil Trade in the Gulf
- Oil Price Decline: U.S. crude oil prices fell 1.1% to $73.74 per barrel on Wednesday, marking the first drop since the U.S. initiated military actions against Iran, indicating market concerns over future developments.
- Government Support Measures: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration will provide insurance for oil tankers in the Gulf through the International Development Finance Corporation and promised naval escorts if necessary, aiming to restore market confidence.
- Strait of Hormuz Traffic Standstill: Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a halt as ship owners fear Iranian retaliatory strikes, with the strait being the world's most critical chokepoint for oil trade, accounting for about 20% of global oil consumption.
- Market Reaction: Despite a 6% and 5% increase in U.S. crude prices on Monday and Tuesday respectively, market sentiment turned cautious following Bessent's announcement of further support measures, leading to a decline in oil prices.
See More
