# Middle East maritime conflict and shipping rate surges > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/middle-east-maritime-conflict-and-shipping-rate-surges > Updated: 2026-09-13T23:47:23.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Geopolitical instability in the Middle East has caused massive surges in the Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET), driven by rising oil tanker chartering rates and freight agreements. Disruptions in critical maritime corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, have significantly increased the risk and cost of transporting crude oil. Specific factors contributing to these shifts include conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, as well as Houthi advances in Yemen, including the seizure of the port of Mocha and Perim Island. Furthermore, security threats such as drone attacks originating from Iraq have led Saudi Arabia to take precautionary measures, including the shutdown of its East-West crude oil pipeline. These combined logistical threats and regional conflicts have resulted in record-high shipping rates, such as the Gulf-to-China supertanker rate, and a substantial increase in the fund’s net assets. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-13: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF surges 3,600% amid Middle East oil shipping disruptions The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) has surged 3,600% this year as Middle East conflicts drive oil freight rates to record highs. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/breakwave-tanker-shipping-etf-surges-3600-amid-middle-east-oil-shipping-disruptions ### 2026-09-10: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF surges 5,100% amid maritime conflict The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) has surged over 5,100% in a year, driven by skyrocketing oil tanker freight rates amid geopolitical conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/breakwave-tanker-shipping-etf-surges-5100-amid-maritime-conflict --- Cite as: Middle East maritime conflict and shipping rate surges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/middle-east-maritime-conflict-and-shipping-rate-surges