Global Logistics Storm: How the Hormuz Crisis and Tariff War Are Reshaping International Transportation

The last week of February 2026 will go down in the history of global logistics as one of the most turbulent periods in recent decades. Three major crises hit the international transportation industry simultaneously, creating what analysts are already calling a “perfect storm”: the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the reinstatement of global trade tariffs by the Trump administration, and conflicting signals from the road transport market. These three forces do not act in isolation — they amplify each other, generating a level of volatility and uncertainty rarely seen in the industry.

The military conflict that broke out between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition at the end of February 2026 transformed the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for about 20% of the oil consumed globally, from a busy transit point into a war zone. The military operation "Operation Epic Fury", launched on February 28, triggered an immediate response from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which de facto blocked passage through the strait. The insurance industry sealed the fate of the transit: P&I clubs withdrew war risk coverage as of March 1, making any crossing financially impossible. Shipping giants such as Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM immediately suspended all transits through Hormuz and, implicitly, through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The consequences were immediate and severe. Approximately 500 container ships, totaling over 2.5 million TEU, remained stranded in the Persian Gulf. The only viable alternative has become to bypass the African continent via the Cape of Good Hope, a route that adds 10 to 15 days to the duration of an Asia-Europe voyage and increases operational costs exponentially. This massive rerouting absorbs between 8% and 12% of global container shipping capacity, drastically reducing the supply available on the market. The effect on rates has been immediate and brutal. Shipping companies have introduced war risk surcharges, emergency fuel surcharges and peak season surcharges. Hapag-Lloyd has announced a surcharge of $3,000 per TEU for cargoes from the Persian Gulf. Analysts predict that spot rates on the Asia-Europe route will double or even triple in the coming weeks as the effects of the capacity reduction become fully felt.

Shippers with urgent or high-value cargo quickly turned to air transport, but this sector has also been hit hard. Airspace over Iran and much of the Middle East has been closed or severely restricted. Major airlines such as Emirates, KLM and Turkish Airlines have suspended flights to key hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam, creating a huge backlog of cargo on the ground. Data from consultancy Rotate shows a 15% reduction in global air cargo capacity as a direct result of the crisis. This reduction in supply, combined with explosive demand from shippers fleeing sea transport, has led to a rapid increase in air fares, comparable to that seen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the Middle East crisis dominated the headlines, another blow was brewing in Washington. On February 28, 2026, the Trump administration imposed a blanket 10% tariff on all goods imported into the United States, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This decision, which came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the use of IEEPA as a legal basis for broad-based tariffs, was surprising in its speed and scope. The impact on supply chains is profound. Companies that were already facing additional costs due to maritime rerouting now face an additional 10% tax on imported goods. This combination of costs accelerates an already visible trend: the regionalization and diversification of supply chains, with more and more companies looking for suppliers geographically closer to reduce exposure to global risks.

In a seemingly paradoxical contrast, the U.S. trucking market is showing tentative signs of emerging from a prolonged recession. FreightWaves’ Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) has seen modest gains, and several major trucking companies have reported slight improvements in volumes. However, this fragile recovery is threatened by new tariffs, which could reduce import volumes and, by extension, domestic demand.

The message for any company that depends on international supply chains is clear: volatility is no longer an exception, but a constant that you must learn to live with. Planning ahead, diversifying suppliers and transportation routes, maintaining buffer stocks, and collaborating with flexible and well-informed logistics partners are no longer strategic options — they are operational necessities. At Crystal Logistics Services, we constantly monitor developments in global transportation markets to offer our clients the best available solutions, regardless of market conditions. Contact us to discuss how we can optimize your supply chain together in these turbulent times.