Possible shipping insurance premium hike amid Gulf conflict to affect Philippines--solon
At A Glance
- Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda is prodding the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to closely monitor possible hikes in shipping insurance premiums due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Map of the Middle East (Geographicguide.com)
Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda is prodding the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to closely monitor possible hikes in shipping insurance premiums due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
In a statement Sunday, June 15, the outgoing congressman reckoned that the two agencies should monitor shipping insurance trends and assess if premium surcharges require government support for critical imports.
Pointing to possible effects of the conflict, Salceda said: Marine insurance premiums may also rise. If global insurers designate Gulf routes as war risk zones, freight rates on oil and food cargo may increase.
Even Philippine shipments not passing directly through the Gulf may face higher landed costs due to global reinsurance adjustments, he noted.
Reports over the wekeend said that Iran was mulling the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz is the only marine entryway into the Persian Gulf.
The Maritime Industry Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry should account for this in their operational planning and propose budget lines for monitoring and response, noted Salceda.