Published: Apr 19, 2026, 13:00 IST | Updated: Apr 19, 2026, 13:00 IST
Shipping crude oil through key Gulf routes is becoming increasingly expensive as war-risk insurance premiums surge amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Tanker operators are slowing movements through sensitive chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz due to rising security threats and higher transit costs. Insurers have sharply raised premiums or withdrawn coverage altogether in some cases forcing shipowners to reassess voyages and contributing to tighter global oil flows and market volatility.