With US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggering a major crisis on February 28, 2026, retailers already have to face the closure of strategic trade routes, rising freight costs and import disruptions, particularly in the electronics, fashion and luxury sectors. What is the impact for European retailers? Insights from Economic Analyst Sylvain Tiger.
On February 28, 2026, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, conflicts in the Middle East brought parts of international trade to a standstill. The main cause was the disruption of strategic maritime routes. Iran threatened to attack cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz located between Iran and Oman. This key artery for global trade of hydrocarbons accounts for around 20% of total traffic. The Bab el-Mandeb location — which is “responsible for around 30% of global containers traffic”, according to Economic Analyst Sylvain Tiger, CEO at Ultra Bourse — has also become difficult to access.
Do you have information to share with us?
Article authors
Morgane Monteiro
Journalist
Journaliste économique pour mind Retail depuis 2024, j’analyse la transformation digitale du commerce.