U.S. Import Exposure Limited Overall but Highly Concentrated in Critical Sectors

ATLANTA, Georgia, April 15, 2026 — Descartes Systems Group, the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, released a special global shipping report examining the impact of the Strait of Hormuz disruption on U.S. maritime imports. The analysis highlights that, while overall U.S. exposure to shipments transiting the Strait is relatively limited, key industries—including energy, fertilizers and aluminum—face significantly higher risk due to concentrated dependency.

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One of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since late February 2026. Between March 2025 and March 2026, approximately 2.8% (18.5 million metric tons) of total U.S. maritime imports (649.6 million metric tons) departed via the Strait. While this represents a relatively small share of total U.S. imports, reliance is far more pronounced in specific commodity categories critical to industrial and agricultural supply chains. Mineral fuels (HS 27), fertilizers (HS 31) and aluminum (HS 76) are most exposed, with fertilizers accounting for 17.5% and aluminum 20.0% of U.S. imports (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. U.S. Import Exposure by Sector (HS2)

At a more granular level, several critical commodities show heightened reliance on Hormuz transit routes. These include petroleum oils (HS 2710), nitrogenous fertilizers (HS 3102) and unwrought aluminum (HS 7601), with some categories—such as aluminum—approaching nearly 40% dependency (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. U.S. Import Exposure by Commodity (HS4)

“While the overall share of U.S. imports affected by the Strait of Hormuz disruption is relatively small, the concentration of risk in critical commodities presents meaningful challenges for supply chain resilience,” said Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes. “While ongoing geopolitical developments add uncertainty to planning efforts, importers in high-exposure sectors may need to reassess sourcing strategies and explore alternative trade lanes to mitigate disruption risk.”

To learn more about the analysis and its implications for global supply chains, visit Descartes’ Global Shipping Resource Center.

Notes:

1.     Volume data (metric tons) reflects U.S. imports departing from ports routing through the Strait of Hormuz, not necessarily country of origin. Some cargo may be transshipped or rerouted, allowing certain volumes to still reach the U.S. despite disruptions.

2.     Because maritime transit times to the U.S. typically range from 30 to 45 days, March 2026 import data largely reflects pre-closure shipments. As a result, the full impact of the disruption is expected to become more visible in April and May data.

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