Recent conflicts involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran, coupled with Iranian counterattacks, have severely disrupted maritime traffic through the Persian Gulf. This has caused a significant blockage in the ports along the Gulf, impacting vital global import and export routes. As a result, the key maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz has become impassable for many shipping companies.
To circumvent this bottleneck, some shipping operators are choosing to reroute their vessels around the African continent. Although this alternative route drastically increases both travel distance and shipping costs—making journeys three times longer and up to four times more expensive—it provides a way to maintain supply chains amid the ongoing tensions. The situation underscores the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and highlights the broader economic consequences of regional instability.