Lara GuevaraSupply Chain expert (Product and Service)

20% of the World's Oil. Closed.

6 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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1:20

In this concise advisory, Lara Guevara warns direct-to-consumer (DTC) founders and e‑commerce operators that the Strait of Hormuz—controlling roughly 20% of global oil and a major portion of Asia‑to‑Europe shipping—is currently closed. She explains that the closure acts like a bottleneck, forcing ocean shipments to be rerouted and adding 7–14 days to transit times. Carriers such as MSC, Maersk, CMA, and CGM are already applying war‑risk surcharges, which will be passed to shippers, raising landed‑cost components across the board. Higher oil prices will also inflate air‑freight and last‑minute delivery costs. Guevara urges founders to immediately contact their freight forwarders to identify which of their shipments are affected by the Hormuz (or Suez) closure, obtain written confirmation, and use a checklist of questions she offers to mitigate cost and timing impacts.

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Most DTC founders have never heard of the Strait of Hormuz. That's exactly why they're about to get hurt. The Strait of Hormuz isn't just some geography fact. It's the bottleneck that controls roughly 20% of the world's oil supply and a massive chunk of Asia-to-Europe shipping. When it closes, freight prices spike, and right now it's closed. Let me make this very simple. Imagine a funnel. On one side, oil from the Gulf, goods from Asia. On the other side, Europe, North America, the rest of the world. The Strait of Hormuz is the funnel's neck. When Iran and the US go head-to-head, that neck gets squeezed. One, any ocean shipment routing through the Gulf, they're rerouted, adding 7 to 14 days minimum. Two, carriers don't absorb the cost. You do. War risk surcharges are already live from MSC, Maersk, CMA, CGM. Number 3, oil prices will spike. That drives up air freight, that drives up last-minute delivery cost. Every number in your landed cost is about to move. Ask your freight forwarder today, which of my shipments are affected by Hormuz or Suez closure? Get the answer in writing. Comment Hormuz and I'll DM you a checklist of questions to ask your forwarder this week.