U.S. Imports from Hormuz-Affected Ports Collapse in May as Strait Closure Hits Key Commodity Flows in Port News 20/06/2026 The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, and its closure since February 28, 2026 amid the Middle East conflict between the U.S. and Iran has raised significant concerns for global trade. On June 15, 2026, the U.S. and Iran reached an initial agreement to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Associated Press. However, implementation of the deal was not expected to begin until the agreement is formally signed, and the timing of a full recovery in commercial shipping flows remains uncertain. To assess the potential impact of the closure to date, this article analyzes U.S. imports based on Country of Departure data for ports in countries reliant on the Strait of Hormuz for shipping activity. Hormuz-affected ports include shipments departing from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Unlike Descartes’ monthly Global Shipping Report, which analyzes containerized trade using twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), this report measures imports in metric tons. Using weight as the unit of measure is necessary as much of the trade moving through the Strait of Hormuz consists of bulk commodities such as crude oil, refined petroleum products, fertilizers, and metals that are typically transported by tankers and bulk vessels rather than in shipping containers. As a result, TEU-based analysis would not fully capture the scale of trade exposure associated with disruptions in the region. It is important to note that data by Country of Departure is different from Country of Origin. Country of Departure captures goods that depart from ports in these countries, including cargo that may have transited through the region, not only goods produced there. This makes the data useful for identifying trade exposure to regional shipping disruptions. The data covers May