Strait of Hormuz Reopens: Shipping Restart Faces Delays

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints responsible for approximately 20-30% of global seaborne petroleum trade, has reopened following a disruption event. However, the recovery is proving slower than initially anticipated, with shipping lines reporting backlogs, vessel congestion, and extended transit times across major trade lanes connecting Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This situation presents a compound problem for supply chain professionals: while the immediate blockage has cleared, the restart phase is creating new operational challenges.

Carriers are working through accumulated cargo, rerouting decisions are still being rationalized, and shippers face uncertainty about normalizing schedules and rates. For companies with Asia-Europe supply chains or energy procurement strategies, this translates to extended lead times, elevated shipping costs due to congestion surcharges, and potential inventory management complications. The slow restart underscores a critical supply chain lesson—chokepoint disruptions create cascading effects that persist long after the physical blockage is removed.

Organizations should view this as a stress test for their visibility and contingency planning capabilities, particularly those dependent on energy inputs or time-sensitive goods moving through Middle Eastern sea lanes.