Middle East Conflict: Freight & Supply Chain Advisory
Update: March 4th, 2026
Rising military tensions in the Middle East are causing widespread disruptions to freight movements. The situation remains highly fluid, with operational conditions shifting rapidly across both aviation and maritime sectors.
Although major transport corridors remain open, key trade routes and transit hubs are operating under heightened security, leading to delays, rerouted shipments, and increased costs across international supply chains.
Air Freight:
Airspace Closures / Restrictions:
- Certain corridors over Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon are restricted or may close without warning.
- Expect rerouting and delays for flights crossing high-risk zones.
Cargo Impact:
- Extended transit times on Asia–Europe and intra-Middle East corridors
- Reduced bellyhold capacity due to passenger flight cancellations
- Higher demand for charters
- War-risk and security surcharges likely
- Capacity remains available, but scheduling volatility is high, and changes can occur with limited notice.
Sea-Air Freight:
- SEA-AIR service has been suspended until further notice
Ocean Freight:
Several leading ocean carriers are adjusting their operations due to increased security risks at critical maritime chokepoints. Measures include suspending services, pausing bookings, withdrawing vessels, and rerouting ships. These changes are affecting global shipping schedules, extending transit times, and reducing available capacity.
Ports:
- Gulf ports (Jebel Ali Port, King Abdulaziz Port, Hamad Port) remain operational but are under heightened security.
- Expect delays in cargo handling and extended dwell times
Maritime Corridors
- The Strait of Hormuz is under heightened surveillance, with reports of closures and safety risks prompting vessels to reroute.
- Red Sea and Suez Canal routes are under close watch, with potential rerouting and delays due to regional tensions.
Freight Impact:
- Schedules are changing, leading to immediate delays and potential blank sailings
- Vessels are being rerouted, particularly affecting transhipment services.
- Revised service rotations across Asia–Europe and intra-Gulf trades
- Increased bunker and war-risk insurance costs are expected.
- Vessel bunching and potential port congestion
Update from Carriers:
- Maersk is halting all crossings of the Strait of Hormuz and pausing sailings through the Trans-Suez and Bab el-Mandeb routes. Their Middle East–India–Mediterranean services are now being rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope.
- CMA CGM has suspended Suez Canal transits until further notice. Vessels currently in or heading to the Gulf have been instructed to move to safe shelter, and Emergency Conflict Surcharges are being applied across affected trades.
- MSC has suspended all bookings to the Middle East. Ships operating in or destined for the Gulf are being diverted to secure locations, with containers rerouted to designated safe ports under “End of Voyage” declarations.
- COSCO Shipping is directing vessels to safe waters or standby anchorage after Gulf operations and is limiting exposure to Middle East port calls.
- Hapag-Lloyd has paused Trans-Suez services, including loops connected to the ISC network, and suspended Hormuz transits. War Risk Surcharges have been introduced for cargo in the Gulf, and bookings to and from the Upper Gulf are on hold.
Shipments Already Booked / On the Water
- Carriers may divert vessels or apply retroactive war-risk / contingency surcharges.
- Delivery schedules may be delayed; force majeure clauses may apply depending on route changes or security incidents.
- Time-critical or perishable cargo should be prioritized for alternative routing where possible.
Our Commitment
We are monitoring carrier advisories, aviation authorities, port conditions, and security updates daily. Our teams are actively working with airline and ocean partners to identify the most stable routing options available.
For shipment-specific guidance or contingency planning, please contact our team directly.