Treetop General presents its brief for Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The news: At least nine attacks have been reported in the Strait of Hormuz so far this month, already half of September’s total. Brent is back above $101.
Why it matters for wood buyers: When attacks rise, insurers raise war-risk premiums and shipping lines add surcharges. For timber and panels, which are bulky but lower in value per cubic metre, these costs make up a larger share of the landed price.
Example (illustrative figures): If war-risk insurance is 0.5% of cargo value, a $40,000 container pays $200. If the rate doubles to 1%, that becomes $400 per container, or $4,000 across ten containers in a season.
What to do now:
- Ask suppliers to quote war-risk insurance as a separate line, so you can see changes.
- Agree in the contract who pays if premiums rise after booking.
- Consolidate cargo to reduce the number of containers exposed.
The honest caution: Shipping volumes are higher than in spring even as attacks rise. Conditions can improve or worsen quickly. Keep buffer days in delivery plans.
Treetop General — steady wood supply in unsteady times.
