The Strait of Hormuz as a supply chain resilience stress test: maritime chokepoints, energy logistics, and sustainability policy

David S. Fowler

doi:10.2478/jlst-2026-0012

.blurhash-client-img { display: none !important; }

The Strait of Hormuz as a supply chain resilience stress test: maritime chokepoints, energy logistics, and sustainability policy

Logistics, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Global Challenges

AHEAD OF PRINT

By: David S. Fowler

Open Access

|Sep 2026

Abstract

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime chokepoints, carrying a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade. This study uses a case-informed conceptual policy analysis and thematic review of 22 peer-reviewed articles to examine how chokepoint disruption transmits risk across global supply chains. The coding process produced 268 coded instances; five dominant categories accounted for 53.7% of the total and concerned structural chokepoint dependence, the efficiency-resilience tradeoff, energy-cost transmission, sustainability and social externalities, and multi-actor governance. The 2026 Hormuz disruption is used as a bounded contemporary case, updated through August 28, 2026, to connect the literature-derived themes with observed logistics and energy-market effects. The study develops a corridor-level resilience framework in which chokepoint exposure produces operational consequences and cascading effects that are moderated by firm, market, and government responses. The contribution is to position corridor resilience as a distinct complement to firm- and network-level supply chain resilience.

References

Almutairi, H., Pierru, A., & Smith, J. L. (2025). Pandemic, Ukraine, OPEC+ and strategic stockpiles: Taming the oil market in turbulent times. Energy Economics, 144, 108319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108319
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Christopher, M., & Peck, H. (2004). Building the resilient supply chain. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 15(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090410700275
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Guo, Y., Liu, F., Song, J.-S., & Wang, S. (2025). Supply chain resilience: A review from the inventory management perspective. Fundamental Research, 5(2), 450–463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmre.2024.08.002
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hendricks, K. B., & Singhal, V. R. (2005). Association between supply chain glitches and operating performance. Management Science, 51(5), 695–711. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1040.0353
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hosseini, S., Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2019). Review of quantitative methods for supply chain resilience analysis. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 125, 285–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2019.03.001
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hosseini Shekarabi, S. A., Kiani Mavi, R., & Romero Macau, F. (2025). Supply chain resilience: A critical review of risk mitigation, robust optimisation, and technological solutions and future research directions. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-025-00458-8
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
International Energy Agency. (2026a). Gas market report, Q3-2026. https://www.iea.org/reports/gas-market-report-q3-2026
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
International Energy Agency. (2026b, February). Strait of Hormuz. https://www.iea.org/about/oil-security-and-emergency-response/strait-of-hormuz
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2020). Viability of intertwined supply networks: Extending the supply chain resilience angles towards survivability. International Journal of Production Research, 58(10), 2904–2915. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1750727
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jaakkola, E. (2020). Designing conceptual articles: Four approaches. AMS Review, 10, 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Key, R., Parrado, R., Delpiazzo, E., King, R., & Bosello, F. (2024). Potential climate-induced impacts on trade: The case of agricultural commodities and maritime chokepoints. Journal of Shipping and Trade, 9, Article 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-024-00170-3
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kleindorfer, P. R., & Saad, G. H. (2005). Managing disruption risks in supply chains. Production and Operations Management, 14(1), 53–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-5956.2005.tb00009.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Li, X., Chua, J. Y., & Yuen, K. F. (2024). A review on maritime disruption management: Categories, impacts, and strategies. Transport Policy, 154, 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.05.013
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lücker, F., Timonina-Farkas, A., & Seifert, R. W. (2025). Balancing resilience and efficiency: A literature review on overcoming supply chain disruptions. Production and Operations Management, 34(6), 1495–1511. https://doi.org/10.1177/10591478241302735
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Notteboom, T., Haralambides, H., & Cullinane, K. (2024). The Red Sea crisis: Ramifications for vessel operations, shipping networks, and maritime supply chains. Maritime Economics & Logistics, 26, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-024-00287-z
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Notteboom, T., Pallis, A., & Rodrigue, J.-P. (2026). Main maritime shipping routes and chokepoints. In Port economics, management and policy (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://porteconomicsmanagement.org/pemp/contents/part1/interoceanic-passages/main-maritime-shipping-routes/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J. M., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, Article n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ponomarov, S. Y., & Holcomb, M. C. (2009). Understanding the concept of supply chain resilience. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 20(1), 124–143. https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090910954873
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pratson, L. F. (2023). Assessing impacts to maritime shipping from marine chokepoint closures. Communications in Transportation Research, 3, Article 100083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commtr.2022.100083
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Reuters. (2026a, May 6). CMA CGM vessel attacked in Strait of Hormuz as shipping halted by US-Iran war. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/cma-cgm-container-ship-hit-strait-hormuz-injuring-crew-2026-05-06/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Reuters. (2026b, May 5). Iran sets up new mechanism to manage vessel transit through Hormuz. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-sets-up-new-mechanism-manage-vessel-transit-through-hormuz-2026-05-05/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Reuters. (2026c, August 28). Shipping traffic via Strait of Hormuz slips below 10-day average, data shows. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/shipping-traffic-via-strait-hormuz-slips-below-10-day-average-data-shows-2026-08-28/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rice, J. B., Jr., & Sheffi, Y. (2005). A supply chain view of the resilient enterprise. MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(1), 41–48.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Saul, J. (2026, April 29). Hormuz shipping traffic remains at a trickle as US-Iran deadlock deepens. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hormuz-shipping-traffic-remains-trickle-us-iran-deadlock-deepens-2026-04-29/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sun, R., Abouarghoub, W., Demir, E., & Potter, A. (2026). Geopolitical disruptions and maritime transitions: Environmental and economic costs of rerouting. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 203, Article 104737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104737
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484305278283
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Torraco, R. J. (2016). Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future. Human Resource Development Review, 15(4), 404–428. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484316671606
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tukamuhabwa, B. R., Stevenson, M., Busby, J., & Zorzini, M. (2015). Supply chain resilience: Definition, review and theoretical foundations for further study. International Journal of Production Research, 53(18), 5592–5623. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2015.1037934
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2024). Review of maritime transport 2024: Navigating maritime chokepoints. https://unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2024
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2026a, June 30). Hormuz reopening may calm markets, but vulnerable economies face lasting consequences. https://unctad.org/news/hormuz-reopening-may-calm-markets-vulnerable-economies-face-lasting-consequences
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2026b, March 10). Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Implications for global trade and development. https://unctad.org/publication/strait-hormuz-disruptions-implications-global-trade-and-development
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2025, June 16). Amid regional conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains critical oil chokepoint. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Verschuur, J., Lumma, J., & Hall, J. W. (2025). Systemic impacts of disruptions at maritime chokepoints. Nature Communications, 16, Article 10421. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65403-w
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wieland, A., & Wallenburg, C. M. (2013). The influence of relational competencies on supply chain resilience: A relational view. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 43(4), 300–320. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-08-2012-0243
Search in Google Scholar Back to article