Shippers, including Frontline, express serious worries about U.N. agreement on ship fuel emissions.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 18 2025
0mins
Should l Buy FRO?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Shipping Companies' Concerns: A coalition of major shipping firms, including Frontline, has raised "grave concerns" about the proposed Net Zero Framework by the IMO, arguing it may not effectively support maritime decarbonization or ensure fair competition, and calling for critical amendments before adoption.
Freight Rate Surge: Freight rates for Very Large Crude Carriers have reached their highest levels in over two years due to tightening tanker supply and increased Middle East exports, with the key spot rate for the Middle East to China route hitting W108, equivalent to at least $6.6 million.
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Analyst Views on FRO
Wall Street analysts forecast FRO stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
0 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 37.140
Low
14.36
Averages
23.45
High
30.00
Current: 37.140
Low
14.36
Averages
23.45
High
30.00
About FRO
FRONTLINE PLC is a Cyprus-based company primarily operating in the transportation sector. The Company's main focus is on seaborne transportation of crude oil and refined products. The Company owns and operates a fleet consisting of multiple VLCC, Suezmax and LR2 / Aframax tankers intended for freight of oil and cargo. The Company operates worldwide.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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- International Situation Impact: Reports of Iran making indirect contact with the US to negotiate an end to the war boosted market sentiment, although Iranian media denied the claims, the hope for an early resolution to the conflict remains.
- Oil Price Volatility: Despite crude oil prices being affected by the Iranian drone attack and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz leading to production cuts in Iraq, the market estimates a risk premium of $18 per barrel, reflecting heightened concerns over energy supply.
See More
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- Employment Data Impact: The February ADP employment report indicated an increase of 63,000 jobs, surpassing expectations of 50,000, suggesting a resilient labor market that may support the stock market, while also raising concerns about Federal Reserve policy direction.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices fell by over 1% after Iran proposed discussions with the US to end the conflict, compounded by Treasury Secretary's comments on potential 15% tariffs on imports, adding to market uncertainty.
- Economic Outlook: This week, the market will focus on US-Iran war news, corporate earnings, and economic data, with expectations for a slight decline in the February ISM services index and an increase of 3,000 in initial unemployment claims to 215,000, highlighting the complexities of economic recovery.
See More
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- Trump's Commitment: President Trump pledged to ensure the free flow of energy through the Persian Gulf by providing political risk insurance and financial guarantees via the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, although this is seen as only a partial solution that may face execution challenges.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Trump's comments led to a pullback in oil prices; however, RBC Capital analysts question the adequacy of planning for the insurance backstop and believe there could be significant challenges in executing this plan quickly, especially given ongoing Iranian attacks.
- Cautious Shipowners: Shipowners have expressed caution regarding the insurance provisions and costs, stating that confidence issues cannot be easily resolved by U.S. Navy escorts, particularly with limited escort capacity and ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
- Navy Resource Constraints: The U.S. Navy previously escorted tankers in the 1980s, but now has fewer ships, while oil and gas exports from the region have nearly doubled to about 20 million barrels per day, raising concerns about whether there are enough Navy assets to escort ships and continue operations against Iran.
See More
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See More
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- Shipping Rate Surge: LNG tankers in the Atlantic Basin are now demanding over $200K/day, nearly double the previous day's rates, indicating a strong demand for shipping capacity.
- Price Comparison: This new rate is at least three times the $61.5K/day assessed by shipping firm Spark Commodities earlier, reflecting the market's heightened tension regarding LNG transport.
- Production Impact: The shutdown of LNG production in Qatar is closely linked to escalating tensions between the U.S.-Israel and Iran, leading to soaring shipping costs and demonstrating the direct impact of geopolitical factors on energy markets.
- Future Outlook: Despite the current spike in rates, actual transaction prices may not rise further unless production cuts in Qatar and the U.A.E. are prolonged, indicating that the market remains sensitive to production developments.
See More
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- Market Turmoil: According to data from the Baltic Exchange in London, the full voyage cost for tankers from the U.S. Gulf Coast to China also exceeded $21 million for the first time, indicating immense pressure on the shipping market due to geopolitical tensions, which could lead to rising oil prices in the future.
- Increased Insurance Risks: Following Iran's attacks on at least seven vessels in the Persian Gulf, insurance companies have canceled war risk coverage for ships in the region, further exacerbating operational risks for shipping companies, potentially leading to more owners opting to suspend operations or raise freight rates to mitigate potential losses.
- Mixed Market Reactions: Relevant stocks showed mixed performance, with Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) up 4.8%, while Teekay Tankers (TNK) dipped 0.1%, reflecting divergent investor sentiment regarding the profitability of shipping companies in the current high-risk environment, necessitating careful assessment of each company's future financial performance.
See More
