Constraints have largely kept containerized trade in the region reliant on coastal ports and inland rail and trucking connections.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence has already sent military planners to U.S. Central Command to help find ways to get tankers through the strait.

The process points to Iran’s increasing efforts to assert control over the vital maritime channel.

The disruptions come at a critical time, with publishers ordering print runs in Asia and locking in shipping arrangements.

Eliminating costs created by the Jones Act temporarily represents a drop in the bucket compared to the global market swings created by the war in Iran.

Semiconductors continued to drive South Korea’s overall shipments, supported by sustained investment in artificial intelligence and data centers.

Analysts say Tehran is trying to impose a traffic control system through the strait, permitting safe passage for friendly vessels while leaving others fearful of attack.

The California Fuels & Convenience Alliance is among many industry bodies and businesses that would like to see the Jones Act restrictions relaxed or ended permanently.

Producers would have lost money in 2025, if it wasn’t for federal subsidies, including the $12 billion in bridge loans for farmers hurt by Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The U.S. plan to turn Iranian floating storage into prompt supply will require finding buyers.