Geopolitical risk and the direction of global shipping

Hosted by Anna Cherkizova, Freight Editor at Argus Media, this discussion with Punit Oza, the Director of Maritime NXT and Affiliated Research Fellow at Singapore Management University, highlights how escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are reshaping global freight and energy markets.

The conversation focuses on the consequences of potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, including shifts in tanker routes, volatility in freight rates, challenges to energy security, and changes in global trade patterns.

The discussion also underscores the growing role of alternative export routes and new freight benchmarks, while considering wider macroeconomic effects such as inflationary pressures, commodity market instability, and the evolving structure of global energy trade.

Main Topics

• Geopolitical risks and their impact on the freight market
• Strait of Hormuz disruption, rerouting, and tonne-mile demand
• Sustainability of elevated freight rates and shipowner profitability
• Emergence of alternative export routes and regional freight benchmarks
• War risk premiums and structural shifts in global trade dynamics