The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to commercial shipping since the end of February 2026, following military strikes on Iran. The closure is primarily an energy crisis: the strait carries around 20% of the world's oil supply, and its blockage has sent fuel and freight costs sharply higher across all global shipping routes. Simultaneously, Houthi attacks have resumed in the Red Sea, and as Chatham House reports, vessels are now avoiding the Suez Canal as a precaution, rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope and adding up to two weeks to Asia-Europe journey times. The two disruptions are compounding each other. For any specification that depends on goods imported from the Far East, the impact is both higher cost and longer waits, with no clear resolution in sight.

For procurement teams and specifiers with imported products sitting in their schedules, this is not background noise. It is a live programme risk.

Made Here. Modified Here. Ready When You Need It.

Every Caroflow roof outlet, floor gully and shower drain is manufactured at our UK facility. Not assembled from imported components. Designed, cast and fabricated here, by our team, under processes we control entirely. Our manufacturing is ISO 9001:2015 accredited and Net Zero Carbon, and when a project requires a bespoke solution (a non-standard dimension, a modified connection, or an extended spigot welded to a specific length) we turn it around fast, because we make it ourselves.

Our supply chain is domestic. Our stock is held in the UK. No containers, no strait closures, no force majeure clauses. Just drainage that is ready when your programme demands it.

35+ Years of UK Manufacturing Expertise

Caroflow has been manufacturing drainage solutions in the UK for over 35 years for the commercial construction and refurbishment market:

• Flat roof drainage outlets and balcony outlets

• Overflow Outlets

• Car Park Outlets

• Extension rings and threaded adaptors

If your current drainage specification leaves programme risk sitting with the shipping container rather than the manufacturer, it may be time to reconsider.

Specify Caroflow. Built to perform. Ready when you are.

Explore the full Caroflow range or contact our team to discuss your project requirements.