The effects of the Iran war are being felt across the global supply chain, as container rates rise sharply on vital headhaul trade routes including to the United States, an analyst said.  “Five weeks into the Strait of Hormuz closure and spot rates on every major east-west trade lane have risen sharply, showing this is a conflict with global repercussions for ocean supply chains,” said Peter Sand, Xeneta chief analyst. “No shipper is insulated from financial or operational risk. Far East to U.S. West Coast – a trade which transits the Pacific thousands of miles from the epicenter of conflict – has seen spot rates climb 29% since the end of February.”

Futures dropped as much as 2.8 percent even after U.S. data on Thursday showed the nation’s crude stockpiles dropped by 6.3 million barrels, three times as much as expected. Investors remain doubtful that OPEC-led production cuts will clear a global glut, after Russia ruled out deepening the measures and Saudi Arabia showed less commitment than earlier in the year. “Oil remains volatile, unable to hold onto gains even after strong inventory draws in the U.S.,” said Jan Edelmann, an analyst at HSH Nordbank AG in Hamburg. “While the strong draws are a step in the right direction, multiple weeks of the same are now needed for the rebalancing.” Click Read More below for additional detail.