As the monthslong Iran war continues to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption normally transits — at least one company is reaping the benefits of global trade upheaval.

Clarksons, the world's largest shipbroker, reported its highest-ever operating profit of £64.8 million ($87 million) for the six months ending June 30 — a more than 55% increase year over year. The U.K.-based company, founded in 1852, also saw revenue climb nearly 40% to £413.5 million ($555.5 million), according to its interim results announcement.

CEO Andi Case attributed the surge to worldwide shifts in supply chains driven by the Iran war, which has heightened demand for shipbroking services. Shipbrokers operate as intermediaries between shipowners such as Maersk and cargo holders such as major retailers.

"Clarksons delivered a record first half performance, reflecting both the investment into our underlying business and the exceptional volatility caused by the disruption to global trade from global conflict including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz," Case wrote in a statement on Monday. "We expect the full year performance of the Group to be materially ahead of market expectations."

Case added that the disruptions have "created a pronounced shock across global shipping markets," reshaping trade routes and triggering a "period of operational dislocation" that was followed by rising freight rates and increased hedging activity.

Since the war began in February, daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped from a prewar level of more than 100 ships to approximately 33, according to maritime data tracker Kpler.

Despite President Donald Trump signaling a resumption of peace talks after canceling a renewed offensive against Iran, disruptions show little sign of abating. Tehran has expanded the conflict across the Gulf region, including Yemen's Houthi movement blockading Saudi Arabian maritime traffic near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Separately, Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia have suspended shipping to Black Sea ports and grain export corridors. The scale of disruption echoes other recent shocks to global shipping — from the 2021 Ever Given blockage of the Suez Canal to the pandemic-era container shortage — though the simultaneous closure of multiple maritime chokepoints marks an unprecedented test of the global logistics network.

These supply-chain disruptions have placed mounting pressure on industries such as aviation — where jet fuel costs have soared — and agriculture, which has faced shortages of key chemicals used in fertilizers due to Strait of Hormuz closures. While those sectors struggle, companies like Clarksons are thriving.

"In any market, any disruptions, obviously, create some kind of a zero-sum game," Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a professor of maritime business administration at Texas A&M University at Galveston, told Fortune. "That is, some actors are losing and the others are gaining the equivalent loss."

Supply, Demand, and Geopolitical Chaos

Rodrigue explained that Clarksons' record-breaking earnings come down to straightforward supply and demand dynamics. With fewer ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the need grows for intermediaries like Clarksons that can connect retailers with vessels still capable of transporting goods. As with any brokerage, Clarksons earns a share of each transaction — so when shipping costs rise, the brokerage's cut rises proportionally.

"When you have geopolitical instability, of course, it disrupts the market," Rodrigue said. "It creates uncertainty. It creates a lack of knowledge because nobody knows what the hell is happening. Uncertainty, therefore, actually increases the importance of such firms because people are getting a bit more desperate."

Uncertainty does not always translate into windfall profits, however. In March 2025, ahead of the Trump administration's steep tariffs and amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Clarksons cautioned that trade tensions would have an adverse impact on revenues.

The Iran war has produced the opposite effect. Sea freight costs routed near the Strait of Hormuz nearly quadrupled during the first two months of the conflict, according to data from the International Rescue Committee, primarily driven by steep insurance premiums for vessels navigating the region. The elevated demands and costs of doing business created a strong opening for firms like Clarksons.

"They just behave rationally," Rodrigue said. "Market positions change…and when the market position changes, obviously supply and demand change, and those who are at the right end of the stick are going to benefit."

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.