Is the Strait of Hormuz opening up again?
A French container ship and a Japanese LNG carrier are among the first to cross since the conflict largely shut the route, raising hopes traffic may be slowly resuming.
After weeks of disruption in the Middle East, ships are starting to move again through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global trade and fuel supplies. But it’s still a fragile return, and the risks remain high for companies and crews.
We’ll hear how the conflict is affecting seafarers, with thousands stranded or unable to get to work, and what that says about the wider impact on global shipping.
We’ll also look at the knock-on effects for trade, with millions of kilograms of tea stuck in Kenya as exporters struggle to get goods moving.
And in the US, hiring has picked up more strongly than expected — but we hear from people on the ground who say finding work is still a real challenge.
(Picture: LPG tanker arrives in Mumbai despite rising tensions at Strait of Hormuz, India - 01 Apr 2026. Photo by DIVYAKANT SOLANKI/EPA/Shutterstock.)
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- Yesterday21:32GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Yesterday22:32GMTBBC World Service except Europe and the Middle East