As the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate and risks in the Strait of Hormuz remain high, the global shipping market is once again under pressure. Maersk has officially suspended new booking services for multiple Middle Eastern countries and Persian Gulf ports, and has imposed an emergency freight surcharge of up to $3,800 per container. Meanwhile, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and several other shipping companies have also adjusted their operational strategies for Middle East routes, further intensifying uncertainty in the regional supply chain.
Maersk stated that the current situation in the Middle East is “highly dynamic and extremely unstable,” and navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz has not yet been fully guaranteed. At this stage, it still recommends avoiding transit through the relevant waters. Based on safety assessments, the company has suspended some land and sea booking services in the Middle East region.
The affected areas this time include Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Dammam and Jubail, and most ports in the UAE. Reefer cargo, dangerous goods, out-of-gauge cargo, and ordinary dry cargo are all subject to restrictions. Meanwhile, ports such as Jeddah, King Abdullah Port, Aqaba, Salalah, and Sohar still retain some operations.
In addition to booking restrictions, Maersk has simultaneously announced the imposition of emergency freight surcharges: $1,800 per 20-foot container, $3,000 per 40-foot container, and up to $3,800 for reefer containers, dangerous goods containers, and special containers. Maersk stated that this fee will be used to arrange alternative transport routes, transshipment warehousing, and additional capacity to ensure subsequent cargo delivery.
For cargo owners and freight forwarding companies, this round of adjustments means that logistics costs and transport uncertainty on Middle East routes are rising simultaneously. On one hand, surcharges, war risk insurance, and rerouting costs continue to push up overall freight rates; on the other hand, after the suspension of bookings, some in-transit cargo may face delays in transshipment, increased warehousing, and extended delivery cycles. If vessels continue to reroute, the overall voyage may increase by 10 to 14 days, and fuel and insurance costs will further be passed on to the market.
Under the current situation, the industry has generally begun to reassess the layout of Middle East routes. It is recommended that relevant companies prepare alternative ports and emergency logistics plans in advance, appropriately reserve transport cycles and space capacity, and promptly monitor the latest shipping company policies and changes in war risk insurance costs to mitigate the impact of subsequent supply chain fluctuations.
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