Clarkson posts record profit as Hormuz Strait turmoil drives shipping demand

Clarkson, the world’s largest ship-broking firm, posted a record half-year operating profit of £64.8 million, up over 55% from a year earlier, and revenue climbed to £413.5 million. Chief executive Andi Case attributed the performance to heightened volatility in global trade stemming from the Iran war, which has sharply reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to roughly a third of pre-war levels. The slowdown has pushed shippers to seek alternative routes and higher insurance, inflating freight rates and creating more business for intermediaries like Clarkson.

Data from Kpler confirms the drop in daily ship passages, while the International Rescue Committee notes a near-fourfold rise in sea freight near the strait. Experts such as Jean-Paul Rodrigue explain that geopolitical uncertainty expands the role of brokers, allowing them to capture larger transaction fees. Clarkson expects its full-year results to exceed market forecasts despite ongoing regional tensions.