Helium Shortage Looms as Qatar Supply Disrupted
Everyone is talking about the impact of closing the Strait of Hormuz on oil and gas. I haven't seen much discussion of the war's impact on helium. Most people think of helium as being a fun gas you use for children's balloons. But helium is actually one of the most important industrial gases, used in rockets, MRIs, quantum computers, and most importantly, in the production of semiconductors. Qatar produces ~30% of the world's helium as a byproduct of its natural gas wells, and that supply is now cut off from the global market. 🧵
Costco Shoppers File Class Action for Tariff Refunds
Costco customers are joining a class action lawsuit against the company demanding their share of tariff refunds. Expect more lawsuits like this against other major retailers.
Hapag Lloyd Ship Hit in Hormuz, Crew Safe
The Hapag Lloyd container ship Source Blessing was hit by projectile fragments in the straight of Hormuz earlier today. Hapag reports that it was not a direct hit, all crew are safe, and they have extinguished the fire on...
Carriers Regret Dumping Dubai Cargo in Salalah
Ocean carriers have been leaving containers bound for Dubai in the port of Salalah, Oman until the Strait of Hormuz reopens. They're regretting that decision right now.
Iran Strikes Container Ship and Assisting Tug in Hormuz
A tug boat was assisting a container ship that Iran attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then attacked the tug boat. https://t.co/Fb17MPTaD7
Measure Revenue in 50‑cent Units, Like TEUs
In shipping we measure our volume in half containers (TEUs) and yet everyone looks at me like I’m crazy when I suggest we should measure our revenue in 50 cent pieces.
Iran War Sends Global Ripples Through Container Shipping
The impact of the Iran war on container shipping is reaching well beyond the Persian Gulf, creating ripple effects upstream at ports around the world. 1/ 🧵
First Container Ship Hit in Hormuz; Crew Evacuates
First container ship struck by an "unknown projectile" in the the Strait of Hormuz today. The Safeen Prestige, a 1700 TEU ship operated by Global Feeder Systems (owned by Abu Dhabi Port Group) The attack caused a fire and the crew...
New Atlas Tool Tracks Iran War Shipping Disruptions
We just updated Flexport Atlas to better track disruption to container shipping from the Iran war. Go to https://t.co/W2RkZnA4nS and use hotkey “D” to toggle it on. Our status calculations (all real time) Stalled: stayed within 30 km radius for 24h ...
Countdown Clock Marks End of Section 122 Tariffs
Because this world needed a countdown clock for the end of Section 122 tariffs: https://t.co/fhDXSjks01 https://t.co/MvpXbuNHh5
Hormuz Closure Halts All Jebel Ali Container Services
To see exactly which ocean container services are disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz visit Jebel Ali port on Flexport Atlas and look at the list of services calling there. Jebel Ali in Dubai is...
Appeals Court Sends Tariff Refund Case Back, Deadline Set
The Court of Appeals has sent the tariff refund case back to the Court of International Trade. The court has ordered the government to respond to a motion for tariff refunds by March 17th.
War Risk Insurance Cancels Coverage Once Conflict Begins
Can someone smarter than me explain why war risk insurance gets canceled when there’s a war? https://t.co/7JR2QurKUO
Breaking English Monopoly: Live Multilingual Trade Translations Launch
For the last 250 years, English has been the language of global trade. Flexport Translations changes that, allowing importers and exporters to communicate in their own language with live translations (powered by @grok) so they can understand each other. We've...
Middle East Conflict Cuts 18% of Global Air Freight Capacity
18% of global air freight capacity has been taken out of the market by conflict in the Middle East this weekend.
Flexport Atlas’s First Week: Tracking Iranian Ship Sinkings
I keep checking back to see if any of these Iranian flagged container ships get sunk. Flexport Atlas is having an eventful first week of life. https://t.co/Er8bt5adtf
AI Auditor Uncovers up to 85% Customs Errors, Free Refunds
Flexport now allows importers to use our AI Customs Auditor to audit all the customs entries their other customs brokers have done for them. We find their mistakes and then set you up to claim refunds wherever you overpaid. ...
Qatar Airways Halts Cargo Amid Iran Strikes, Freight Costs Surge
Qatar Airlines is pausing cargo operations as the Iran strikes play out. Prices and transit times on Asia to Europe air freight spiking.
Track Any Container Ship’s Journey Instantly Online
Next time you see a container ship go to https://t.co/19y8bWxNq0 on your phone to see where it’s been and where it’s going next.
Supreme Court Nullifies IEEPA Tariffs—Use Free AI Auditor
The Supreme Court ruled on Feb 20th that IEEPA tariffs were invalid. CBP stopped charging them on Feb 24th. Expect lawsuits are already filed challenging the tariffs for entries dated Feb 20-23rd. But I expect those won’t actually matter as...
Free Flexport Atlas Maps Real Ocean Shipping Routes
Container shipping enjoyers will love Flexport Atlas, our new (free to use) interface for browsing the world's ocean network. Search any two ports to see all the actual routes available and their relative transit times. Still in Beta with...
Flexport Unveils 2026 Winter AI for Global Trade
I just presented Flexport's latest AI for global trade in our 2026 Winter Release. Full video: https://t.co/0NmlfAwqFH
Flexport Winter 2026 Tech Release Live at 8 Am PT
I'm presenting Flexport's Winter 2026 Tech Release at 8 am PT (in 10 minutes). Watch live at this link, and then I'll be taking live questions from the audience after the presentation: https://t.co/BNfvF8nm6x
Customers Love Sharing Screenshots of Their Tariff Refunds
My favorite new thing is customers texting me screenshots of the amount our tariff refund calculator shows they will get back from the government https://t.co/JeiAW7wX99
Importers Weigh Discount for Guaranteed Immediate Tariff Refunds
If you are an importer, what % discount would you accept to get paid the full amount on your tariff refunds right now with 100% certainty and you keep the money even if there are no refunds.
Burning Out on AI, Missing Family, Game Release
I have this insatiable urge to work 100 hour weeks to deploy the latest AI @flexport, and struggling to find time to be with my family and then they have to go and drop the most perfect video game ever...
Fear Outpaces Greed: New Data Confirms
Flexport's tariff refunds webinar today had 2,305 attendees compared with 2,339 attendees for the Liberation Day webinar after the tariffs were first announced. Fear is a bigger driver than greed, now statistically confirmed.
FedEx Sues for Tariff Refunds, May Keep Profits
When you get a FedEx parcel from overseas, technically FedEx is the importer of record that pays the tariffs. Then they send you a bill for the tariffs. They’re now suing the government to get a refund on those tariffs. I...
June 13 2026 Deadline Ends Tariff Refund Protests
The key deadline your company needs to be aware of to make sure you're eligible for tariff refunds is June 13, 2026. After that date you will not be able to file protests for entries filed on February 4th,...
Flexport's Weekend Upgrade
We updated the Flexport Tariff Refunds process over the weekend and had it featured on CNBC on Monday am. How do you compete with that if you're an old school customs broker?
Flexport Simulator Updated, Awaiting 15% Tariff Change
The Flexport Tariff Simulator is up to date with the latest changes to the tariff code. For now we only have a 10% section 122 in place, awaiting official CFR update on the 15% change Trump announced. We made the...
Flexport Auto‑enrolls Customers, Files Early Tariff Protests
Existing Flexport customs brokerage customers are auto enrolled in our tariff refund process and we’ll begin filing protests for them well before the deadline.
Supreme Court Ruling Unlocks Government Tariff Refunds
Here's almost everything I know about tariffs in light of yesterday's Supreme Court ruling. Watch til the end to learn how to get your company's refund from the government. https://t.co/GFmQbceVox