Ten Minutes On… When Hormuz and Global Trade’s Chokepoints Close

TEN MINUTES ON…

This week’s episode looks at the growing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and what it reveals about the fragile geography of global trade. Following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February and Tehran’s decision to block the Strait, one of the world’s most important energy routes has been thrown into uncertainty. Around 20 million barrels of oil per day – roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade – normally passes through Hormuz, meaning even limited disruption can send shockwaves through energy markets and supply chains. 

But Hormuz is only one of several maritime chokepoints that keep the global economy moving. In this episode, I explore the wider network of vulnerable waterways that carry more than half of global trade, including the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandab, the Strait of Malacca and the Panama Canal. From geopolitical conflict and piracy to climate-driven drought, these narrow passages represent critical pressure points in the world economy. Understanding them is essential to understanding how global trade actually works – and how easily it can be disrupted.

TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE, CLICK HERE.