Lara GuevaraSupply Chain expert (Product and Service)

Shipments Stopped. Now What?

6 Mar 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:15

In this short advisory video, Lara Guevara warns DTC (direct‑to‑consumer) founders that the US‑Israel strikes on Iran (Feb 28–Mar 1) have caused an immediate, severe disruption to global shipping. Air freight routes through the Middle East (Dubai, Riyadh, Doha) have been grounded, and key ocean lanes—the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal—are shut or blocked. As a result, shipments from Asia that normally transit the Middle East are stuck, war‑risk surcharges are being added, lead times are lengthening, and freight costs are rising. Lara frames this as a cash‑flow issue for brands with thin inventory buffers. She urges founders to act today: pull open purchase orders, identify any that are routed through the affected Middle East corridors, and flag those at risk. She promises a follow‑up video with a detailed step‑by‑step plan for DTC brands.

Chapters

The Middle East just blew up and your inventory is about to feel it. Between February 28th and March 1st, the US-Israel struck Iran. Iran retaliated and overnight global shipping changed. This isn't just a news story. For DTC founders, this is a cash story. And here's what's actually happening right now. Air freight airlines have grounded flights across the Middle East, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, paused. And ocean freight, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical shipping lanes on the planet, is shut down. That's the route connecting the Persian Gulf to the world. And Suez Canal also blocked again. That means shipments from Asia moving west through the Middle East, they are all stuck. The war risk surcharges are already being added on top of your freight quotes. This is not a drill. Your lead times just got longer. Your cost just went up, and if your inventory buffer was already thin, you have a problem. Today, not tomorrow, pull your open purchase orders and identify which ones are moving through Middle East routing. Ask if you don't know. Flag them now. Save this. I'll be breaking down exactly what DTC brands should do this week in my next video.