The Iran war has disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering global shortages of aluminium, helium, and packaging materials [1, 2].

These disruptions highlight the fragility of global trade routes, where a localized conflict can quickly impact the availability of common consumer goods across multiple continents.

In India, the shortage of aluminium cans has specifically affected the availability of Diet Coke [2]. The Gulf region accounts for around nine percent [3] of India's aluminium imports, and the restricted flow of materials has led to empty shelves. The shortage has reached a point where some bars in India are hosting Diet Coke-themed parties with ticket prices of $16 [4].

Beyond beverage containers, the conflict is affecting the food industry in Japan. Calbee, a major snack producer, is facing a shortage of ink ingredients used for packaging [5]. To maintain production, Calbee said it will switch to black-and-white packaging labels by the end of May 2026 [5].

Other critical materials, including helium, are also seeing reduced availability globally as shipments are halted or diverted [1, 5]. The instability in the Strait of Hormuz has created a ripple effect that extends from raw industrial materials to finished retail products.

While some sectors face scarcity, others have seen unexpected surges. U.S. petroleum inventories jumped 33.9% in March 2026 [6], suggesting a misalignment between production and the ability to export goods through contested waters.

“The Iran war has disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering global shortages.”

The current shortages demonstrate how the Strait of Hormuz serves as a single point of failure for global trade. When conflict restricts this corridor, the impact is not limited to oil, but extends to specialized chemicals and metals. The transition of companies like Calbee to simplified packaging and the emergence of luxury-priced themed events for basic soda indicate that businesses and consumers are already forced to adapt to a 'new normal' of intermittent scarcity.