GRSE, Cochin Shipyard & Mazagon Dock shares rally up to 18% in two days. Here’s what’s triggering the surge

Shares of defence shipbuilding companies have rallied sharply even as the broader market has come under significant selling pressure since the Middle East conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran first broke out.

To put things in perspective, Cochin Shipyard shares have climbed nearly 9% over the past two sessions, while Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders has surged about 18% during the same period. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, meanwhile, has gained around 5% in today’s trade.

The rally follows reports that a US submarine fired a torpedo that sank an Iranian warship off the south coast of Sri Lanka. Reports indicated that 87 sailors were killed and 32 others were rescued, while the remaining crew members are still missing. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were 130 sailors on board the vessel.

The development is significant as such an attack by the US has not taken place in more than 80 years, according to multiple media reports. In recent times, warfare has largely shifted toward aerial capabilities such as drones and missiles. While naval attacks are not entirely unexpected, such an incident is considered unconventional in the current context.

Naval combat incidents, such as the sinking of a warship, often prompt countries in the region to strengthen their maritime defence capabilities. Governments typically accelerate spending on assets such as warships, submarines, surveillance vessels and unmanned naval systems, which in turn improves the order outlook for defence shipbuilders.

IIndia closely monitors developments in the Indian Ocean region, and any conflict near Sri Lanka underscores the strategic importance of key sea lanes. Such developments could prompt the government to accelerate naval fleet expansion and modernisation, benefiting domestic shipyards involved in building naval platforms.India has also been increasingly focused on the indigenisation of defence platforms, including naval vessels. As a result, any push to strengthen maritime capabilities is likely to translate into higher domestic orders for Indian shipyards rather than reliance on imports.Ever since the war broke out, benchmark index Nifty has shed 2.50% while the 30-share Sensex has declined 2%.Also read: Reliance Industries shares rise over 2% after US allows Indian refiners to buy Russian crude under a 30-day waiverIndian stock markets declined on Friday, with the Sensex falling around 500 points and the Nifty 50 hovering near the 24,600-mark in the morning. Escalating war between Iran and the US-Israel was among the key factors behind the market drop. The war entered its 7th day and continued to worsen, with the leaders of the countries threatening more escalations ahead. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that the conflict has “only just begun”. US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he has “no time limits” on how long the war can go on.

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