ConflictClarifier

2026 Iran-Gulf Crisis Tracker
CC
Events Archive
diplomacyApr 30, 2026

Shipping ETFs Crushing the S&P 500 as Hormuz Blockade Rages On

Summary

The ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, stemming from the Iran-U.S. war, has created a paradoxical profit surge for the shipping industry. While the crisis has disrupted global oil flows and pushed crude prices roughly 60% higher year to date, shipping companies have been benefiting by charging premium freight rates to navigate the risk. This is justifiable as tanker operators now demand significantly higher compensation for war risk insurance, longer voyage routes avoiding the strait, and the sheer scarcity of available vessels. Reliable maritime data suggests that spot rates for tankers have jumped significantly over the past couple of months as a result of the ongoing Middle East crisis. Consequently, this windfall has been bolstering shipping-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as investors are increasingly flocking to these vehicles as a hedge against the very volatility that is hampering other sectors of the economy, thereby allowing them to massively outperform the S&P 500 in the year-to-date period. Now, before diving straight into the specifics of these ETFs, investors, considering whether this rally has "legs" or is merely a short-term spike, should understand whether there are factors beyond the immediate chaos of the blockade boosting this upward trajectory for the maritime industry, to determine the long-term sustainability of their portfolio’s growth. We have analyzed these factors in detail below. Factors Beyond Blockade Driving the Shipping Boom Undoubtedly, the primary catalyst driving the shipping industry’s boom lately is the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which nearly one-fifth of global oil production flows. The blockade has caused freight futures for crude oil tankers to "skyrocket," with the cost of moving oil becoming a better trade than oil itself. However, beyond the war itself, several interconnected factors are driving the shipping industry's extraordinary gains. For example, global trade continues to expand amid the war, with strong demand coming especially from emerging markets in Asia, where manufacturing, consumer demand, and e-commerce are keeping cargo volumes high. At the same time, rerouting vessels around disrupted chokepoints is lengthening voyages, exacerbating the supply-demand imbalance. This, in turn, has been pushing up freight rates, fuel costs, and insurance premiums higher, improving carrier earnings. Moreover, chronic underinvestment in new tanker vessels over the past decade has created a tight supply environment, so any surge in demand sends freight rates soaring. In short, geopolitics is amplifying an already strong backdrop of steady trade growth, constrained capacity and elevated shipping costs. What Lies Ahead: Volatility or Sustainability? Over the last week’s development, it is understandable that a ceasefire at the Strait of Hormuz remains elusive as tensions continue to persist between the United States and Iran. So, considering the war situation continues for some more days, the near-term outlook for the shipping ETFs appears strongly positive. However, if the war ends soon, freight rates could collapse as quickly as they rose, leading to a sharp reversal in these funds. Moreover, weak consumer confidence in Europe and fluctuating container shipping demand from the United States remain strong headwinds for this industry’s growth trajectory. Nevertheless, structural growth drivers, like rising consumer demand from the emerging markets of Asia and underinvestment in new tanker vessels, should provide a long-term cushion after the war ends. Consequently, while the absence of geopolitical friction may trigger short-term volatility, the industry's balance remains tied to whether these underlying growth catalysts can outweigh broader economic headwinds. Shipping ETFs in the Spotlight Considering the aforementioned discussion, the following shipping ETFs have dramatically outpaced the S&P 500's year-to-date gain of 4.1% and deserve a spotlight now: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF BWET This fund, with net assets worth $31.4 million, offers exposure to the crude oil tanker shipping market through a portfolio of near-dated futures contracts on indices that measure the cost of shipping crude oil. It charges 350 basis points (bps) as fees. BWET has surged a massive 699.3% year to date and traded at a volume of 0.07 million shares in the last trading session. SonicShares Global Shipping ETF BOAT This fund, with net assets worth $81.8 million, offers exposure to global shipping companies engaged in the maritime transportation of goods and raw materials, including consumer and industrial products, vehicles, dry bulk, crude oil and liquefied natural gas. It charges 69 bps as fees. BOAT has soared 30.3% year to date and traded at a volume of 0.04 million shares in the last trading session. Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF BDRY This fund, with net assets worth $36.7 million, offers exposure to the daily change in the price of dry bulk freight futures. It charges 350 bps as fees. BDRY has rallied 35.2% year to date and traded at a volume of 0.51 million shares in the last trading session. U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF SEA This fund, with net assets worth $18.8 million, tracks the performance of marine shipping, air freight and courier, and port and harbor operating companies. It charges 60 bps as fees. SEA has soared 21% year to date and traded at a volume of 0.02 million shares in the last trading session. Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF Insights Zacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. It’s free!Get it now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (SEA): ETF Research Reports SonicShares Global Shipping ETF (BOAT): ETF Research Reports This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Actors involved

USIran

Sources

  • ZacksBy Zacks

    The ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, stemming from the Iran-U.S. war, has created a paradoxical profit surge for the shipping industry. While the crisis has disrupted global oil flows and pushed crude prices roughly 60% higher year to date, shipping companies have been b…

See this event through different lenses

Compare how Western, Iranian, Israeli, Global South, and Pro-Peace perspectives frame this event.

Compare Perspectives

Community Notes

Community Notes

Loading notes...

Related events

diplomacyUnverifiedUSIran
○ 1 source

Key points: Bitcoin diverges from US stocks as Trump says Strait of Hormuz “open” Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD building on the week’s gains as the S&P 500 bounced from 7,696, its lowest level since Aug. 4. BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView This came after US president Donald Trump posted a map of the closed Strait of Hormuz oil route to Truth Social where it was labeled “new US territory.

” Both the US and Iran lay claim to control of Hormuz, with Trump threatening US ally Oman with military action over its plans to work with Iran on charging tolls to shipping traffic. In a subsequent post, Trump confirmed that further diplomacy with Iran was not on the agenda.

“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” he wrote. S&P 500 one-day chart.

Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView As on Monday, oil avoided major volatility, with WTI crude down 1% at the time of writing at $84 per barrel. US government bonds continued to show strain, with the 30-year yield hitting 5.34%, its highest since January 2007.

“Bond prices are sending warnings,” BNY Mellon analyst Geoff Yu wrote in a research note quoted by the New York Times. Yu said that the surge came as “investors demand more compensation for inflation risk,” while also attributing the upside to government borrowing.

US 30-year bond yields one-month chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView BTC price faces crunch rebound test Updating X followers on BTC/USD, trader and analyst Aksel Kibar eyed the culmination of a potential reverse head-and-shoulders pattern at $62,300.

Related: Bitcoin price spike to $64.5K was ‘low-volume liquidity trap’: Analysis “If $BTCUSD is going to rebound, it has to come from here,” he argued on Monday. Kibar offered a $53,000 target in the event of the head-and-shoulders structure failing, with $76,000 a potential upside target should the rebound sustain.

BTC/USD one-day chart. Source: Aksel Kibar on X.com Previously, Cointelegraph reported that underwater investors were contributing to Bitcoin’s inability to break higher. Its rebound to $64,500 also stopped short of an overhead trend line, the 50-month exponential moving average (EMA).

This moving average is now in place as resistance at $65,827.

Location: Strait of Hormuz
diplomacyUnverifiedUSIran
○ 1 source

Trump says no talks underway with Iran, Hormuz blockade remains in place US president says no discussions are taking place or planned with Tehran and reiterates that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains fully operational Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no talks are taking place with Iran and that no discussions are currently scheduled between the two countries.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also said the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains "in full force and effect." The president did not provide further details regarding US policy towards Iran or any potential future diplomatic engagement.

Trump's comments come amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran and renewed focus on security and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.

Location: Tehran
diplomacyUnverifiedUSIran
○ 1 source

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Iran had “won both the war and diplomacy,” claiming those who initially sought Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” later sought negotiations. Speaking at an event, Araghchi said Iran resisted for days against what he described as “the world’s largest apparent military,” alongside another army claiming military power and with the support of nearly all Western countries and some other states inside and outside the region, according to the Tasnim news agency.

“Those who were seeking unconditional surrender, shortly after the war began, begged for negotiations,” Araghchi said. He claimed Tehran initially rejected a ceasefire and continued fighting until reaching a point where the other side accepted a ceasefire and negotiations “on Iran’s terms.

” “We fought with strength, and we negotiated with strength,” he said, adding that many foreign ministers had told him: “You won both the war and diplomacy.” Araghchi’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump called on Iran on Monday to give up and “raise the white flag.

Location: Tehran
diplomacyUnverifiedUSIran
○ 1 source

- Iran demands US lift sanctions and return frozen assets to reopen Strait of Hormuz - Iran's Parliament Speaker warns closure of Strait continues until US ends military threats - Around 20% of global oil supply passes through the Strait, impacting energy security Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US meets a set of conditions, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to oil sanctions and what Tehran describes as a US blockade and military threats.

Al-Arabiya English reported that Iran's Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Trump administration must meet the conditions before Tehran considers reopening the strategic waterway. “Until the Trump regime removes the blockade, ends the wars across the region, returns Iran's stolen assets, lifts the oil sanctions, and ceases its military threats, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” Ghalibaf said.

Until the Trump regime removes the blockade, ends the wars across the region, returns Iran's stolen assets, lifts the oil sanctions, and ceases its military threats, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. pic.twitter.com/fl2RrKnT1R— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) August 18, 2026 Ghalibaf also warned that Iran was prepared to respond more forcefully depending on the actions of its adversaries.

ALSO READ: 'We Control Hormuz': Trump To Declare Strait As US Territory? Here's What President Says The comments add a new condition to an already fragile diplomatic environment, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of concerns over global energy supplies.

Around one-fifth of global oil supply typically passes through the waterway, making any prolonged disruption a major risk for crude markets, shipping and energy security. Earlier, Press TV reported that Ghalibaf is scheduled to travel to Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a high-level Iranian delegation for discussions with Iraqi leaders.

The talks are expected to cover regional developments and bilateral cooperation, including border security, counterterrorism, economic ties and implementation of existing agreements. Iraqi media have also reported that the agenda could include a proposal concerning Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit comes as regional governments grapple with the implications of continued disruption in one of the world's most important energy corridors. ALSO READ: Hormuz Tensions: Another Ship Hit By Unknown Projectile, Says UKMTO Centre The security situation in the waterway has also remained tense.

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations agency, or UKMTO, said a vessel reported being struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz. “The Company Security Officer has reported that the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz,” UKMTO said.

The impact damaged the vessel's engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, the agency said. The remaining crew was being assisted by the Omani coastguard. Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.

Location: Tehran