Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders on the Front Line
How Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Are Managing Risk and Uncertainty Amid Strait of Hormuz Shipping Disruptions
Strait of Hormuz Chokehold:
What Are the Impacted Commodities?
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for maritime traffic, particularly for energy, industrial, and agricultural commodities as the Descartes Global Shipping Report reveals. With the Strait effectively closed as of February 2026, customs brokers and freight forwarders handling Hormuz‑dependent commodities are absorbing the operational fallout as they manage rapid rerouting and mounting customer demands.
What Does the Data Reveal?
According to our report, approximately 2.8 percent, or 18 million metric tons, of total U.S. maritime imports departed from ports that route through the Strait of Hormuz. Exposure is highly concentrated in select commodities with some goods, such as fertilizers, relying on Hormuz routed shipments for nearly 40 percent of their imports. Impacted importers are reassessing sourcing strategies and having difficult conversations about supplier diversification, alternative origins, and long-term resilience.
Operational Pressure on Trade Intermediaries
As traditional trade lanes become inaccessible or subject to severe delays, freight forwarders are tasked with identifying alternate shipping corridors that balance transit time, landed cost, and reliability. Routing changes can involve unfamiliar port pairings, new carriers, or previously unused transshipment hubs. Each shift introduces operational complexity, from new documentation requirements and customs considerations to fuel surcharges and carrier-specific fees.
Customers also want visibility into where their freight is going as well as how alternative routes compare by cost and transit time. This scenario places pressure on forwarders and brokers to evaluate options rapidly, communicate clearly, and execute flawlessly.
How Does Descartes Help Navigate Disruption?
Our technology can help customs brokers and freight forwarders:
Rapidly Evaluate Alternative Routing Options
Quickly evaluate alternative trade lanes when established routes are disrupted, reducing reliance on manual analysis and fragmented data
Manage Surcharges & Rate Volatility
Stay aligned with shifting surcharges, evolving spot rates, and changing fees
Leverage Built-in Integration Capabilities
Use Application Programming Interface (APIs) and other protocols to interface with internal and external systems and re-use information
Protect Accuracy & Margins
Manage increased operational complexity while maintaining profitability
From Disruption to Resilience
As global trade lanes face sustained disruption, customs brokers and freight forwarders are turning to technology‑enabled processes to adapt with speed, visibility, and control. By combining real‑time visibility, accurate rating, and surcharge management, Descartes helps logistics providers adapt quickly, communicate clearly with customers, and transform disruption into stronger relationships.
Read Our Proven Customer Success Stories
"With Descartes GPM, the booking process has evolved from a labor-intensive approach to a more automated and centralized system. The solution provides visibility into available carrier capacity, allowing our team to make ‘one-shot’ bookings instead of multiple attempts."
Carsten Meyer, Global Head of Ocean Freight, Less Than Container Load (LCL), GEODIS
“We are more than glad to have Descartes as our strategic partner. Descartes helps Everok Group to better manage rates, empower sales, and eventually improve the operation process to deliver high efficient and effective services to customers.”
Cassie Hu, Assistant President, Everok Group