Masters of Scale Crisis at Hormuz, and your $160b tariff refund clock, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen
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Mar 24, 2026 
Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO of Flexport and global trade expert, gives a real-time take on the Strait of Hormuz disruption. He discusses oil and air freight spikes, container rerouting around Africa, stranded containers and port headaches. He also covers the looming $160B tariff refund opportunity, how refunds are bought and financed, and AI’s role in speeding customs and logistics.
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Hormuz Closure Threatens More Than Oil
- The Strait of Hormuz closure risks cascading supply shocks beyond fuel, affecting chemicals, fertilizers, and even semiconductor production.
- Ryan Petersen cites helium from Qatar (30% of world supply) and fertilizer timing during planting as specific fragile links.
Red Sea Matters More For Containers
- Container shipping impact is limited because Persian Gulf traffic isn't central to major container routes; the Red Sea disruptions are a bigger container issue.
- Petersen notes lines returned to the Red Sea in February then shifted back around Africa after renewed attacks, changing routing dynamics.
Carriers Dropping Containers At Random Ports
- Some carriers are dropping containers at unexpected ports and giving only seven days free storage, leaving importers to retrieve misplaced cargo.
- Petersen gives examples of containers meant for Dubai being left in Morocco, Brazil, or France, creating costly retrieval headaches.