Middle East Crisis: Situation Updates

• UAE – All ports operational
• Kuwait – Shuwaikh operational and Shuaiba Partially operational
• Saudi Ports – Operational
• Umm Qasr – Operational
• Hamad – Operational
• Bahrain – Still Not operational
• Oman – Sohar operational, Duqm & Salalah Not operational
• Beirut – Operational
• Umm Qasr – Operational  

• CMA service suspended passage through the Suez Canal now halted until further notice, vessels being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope.
• Gemini and Maersk standalone services will not route via the canal as previously announced.
• SeaLead confirmed will continue to go via Bab Al Mandab from today
• All carriers have now officially halted/suspended any transit via Hormuz Strait due to security reasons and are not accepting any bookings to/from or via the Gulf Ports

• MSC has stopped booking acceptance for Gulf on their Falcon service until further notice
• On 3^rd March MSC declared End of Voyage for all shipments located ashore or at Sea and destined for the Arabian Gulf. Shipments will be diverted to another port deemed safe subject to $800/Container mandatory charge and any other charges that may arise.
• CMA CGM stopped acceptance to reefer & DG bookings
• CMA CGM has stopped accepting any bookings to/from BH, KW, IQ, QA, KSA (except JED, KAP) and AE (except KLF & FUJ)
• CMA CGM has activated Clause 10 with regards to the diversion of cargo on Vsls CMA CGM Nevada and CMA CGM Don Pascuale, giving cargo owners 7 days to decide on the fate of their cargo
• ESL has mentioned business continuity
• RCL has suspended all new bookings to ME/Gulf until further notice
• Effective immediately Maersk has suspended all reefer, dangerous / special cargo acceptance in and out of UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia until further notice
• Maersk has also suspended all new bookings between the India Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) and the Upper Gulf markets of UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail only). This suspension does not apply to other trade corridors
• Maersk has also suspended all DG cargo movement to/from Isreal, rest remains open
• Maersk / COSCO / ONE and YML have also stopped/suspended bookings to/from ME
• Main liners are still accepting bookings from Europe & Americas Eastbound to the Red Sea 

• No information or declarations from Carriers

• Surcharges & Cost Implications: As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, carriers may introduce additional charges to compensate for increased operational and security‑related risks. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• War Risk Surcharge: Given the heightened regional security environment, carriers and insurers may introduce or adjust war‑risk premiums. These may apply to cargo already in transit as well as to new and future bookings.
• Emergency Surcharge (ES): At least one major carrier has announced an Emergency Conflict Surcharge, and additional carriers may implement similar measures depending on how operational conditions develop.
• Bunker Adjustment Charge (BUC): With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and suspended transits through the Bab Al Mandab Strait, many vessels are now rerouting via significantly longer alternatives, including the Cape of Good Hope. Rising oil prices driven by these disruptions are expected to push global bunker costs upward, and carriers are likely to pass on these additional fuel‑related expenses.

• No attacks on container vessels reported
• So far 3 tankers have been hit
  • MKD Vyom - 28^th Feb.
  • Skylight – 1^st March
  • Athe Nova – 2^nd March

• Expect rising spot rates, application of GRI, War Risk and other related surcharges
• Expect rising Bunker cost with the closure of the strait oil prices will increase and the bunker eventually as a result
• Anticipate congestion in Gulf ports and Asian transshipment hubs depending on rerouting of current cargo
• Equipment imbalance likely, with shortages of empties at a later stage

• Closed airspaces: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria, Yemen
• Open airspace in the region:  Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman 

• Oman / MCT – operational
• UAE / DWC, DXB, AUH – limited operations only, expected to reopen
• Qatar / DOH – not operational, expected to reopen
• Saudi Arabia –airports operational
• Bahrain – not operational 

• Middle Eastern Carriers will have to clear backlogs before accepting new bookings
• Air carriers have restricted operations to Middle East destinations, capacity constraints 

• Due to foreseeable impact on jet fuel price, carriers started to introduce FSC increases
• Indirect impact: Routing changes on EU-AP and AP-EU lanes lead to increased operating cost
• Alternative routings of GCC bound shipments will attract additional lead times and rate adjustments 

• Airspace and airport closures led to significant impact on global airfreight capacity
• Short to mid term rate increases on all sectors to/from Middle East will see increases
• Indirect impact on other global network lanes unavoidable due to limitation of available capacity 

• Rates adjustments: Airfreight rates to Middle East region have been suspended, rate levels to other regions will be updated on regular basis including temporary adders
• Airfreight rate originating from Europe, Asia and Americas will be subject to temporary adders on lane level
• Fuel surcharges subject to increase

• UAE customs is operational

• Beirut Port , airport & Customs Operational - No Disruptions

• Air Customs – opened for clearance on 2/Mar evening, so we have cleared shipment for the last 2 days – few shipments pending as certain approval needed
• Shuwaikh Sea Port customs – all pending cleared
• Shuaiba Sea Port customs – shipment pending and Customs has only opened up today
• Customs Head Office Working on 30 percent staff

• Hamad International Airport: Operations on-going/ normal as of now
• Hamad Port: Operations on-going/ normal as of now
• Abu Samra Border: Operations on-going/ normal as of now

• Bahrain Airport Services: Operation suspended and only medical items and food stuff allowed for deliveries subject to authorities approval
• Khalifa Bin Salman Port: Operation suspended and only medical items and food stuff allowed for deliveries subject to authorities approval
• King Fahad Causeway: Normally operating as of now

• Airport: 
  • All customs centers in Oman are functioning as normal
  • Oman customs approved transit clearance processing from sea ports and airport
• Seaport:
  • All customs centers in Oman are functioning as normal
  • Oman customs approved transit clearance processing from sea ports and airport

• BGW, EBL and BSR Airpots / UQ: CC working normally in Iraq
• IKB border with Turkey: CC working normally in Iraq

Why are some vessels not transiting the Suez Canal as instructed?

Carriers are avoiding the Suez route due to safety risks and insurance withdrawal. Several have already begun diverting vessels to safer ports to terminate voyages and discharge cargo early. 

What changes should customers expect in ocean freight in the coming days?

Expect continuous vessel diversions, end of voyage discharges, increased use of alternative ports, longer routing times, capacity reductions, and evolving carrier contingency plans as the situation changes hour by hour. 

If a vessel diverts to Oman (e.g., Salalah), can DHL move containers by road into Saudi Arabia or GCC?

Yes. DHL can road bridge diverted cargo from Oman (Salalah, Sohar, Duqm) into the wider GCC using established cross border trucking solutions. 

Are dangerous goods still permitted for ocean transport in the current situation?

Yes, dangerous goods can still move. Regulations have not changed, but all special cargo is secondary to perishables and healthcare shipments in terms of priority.

Why are ocean transit times still increasing even though vessels were already rerouting around Africa?

The crisis added new disruptions: vessels are being held, rerouted, or forced to discharge early; insurance limits restrict Gulf entries; ports face operational constraints; and capacity is tightening. These factors extend transit far beyond the original Cape-related delays. 

Will container lines that don’t cross the crisis zone (e.g., transatlantic routes) also be affected?

Yes. Equipment shortages and vessel imbalances caused by the crisis will have ripple effects across unrelated trade lanes as global networks readjust. 

What is the outlook for war risk and emergency surcharges?

Surcharges have already been applied across carriers and will continue rising as capacity tightens and risks increase. Additional emergency bunker charges may also appear. 

Are surcharges applied only to new bookings or also to cargo already in transit?

Surcharges apply to both new and in transit cargo. Some carriers also require customers to bear additional charges associated with early vessel termination. 

If Jeddah becomes the primary GCC gateway, should congestion be expected?

Yes. Jeddah and other alternative ports are expected to face significant congestion driven by vessel diversions, high inbound flows, limited berthing, and equipment imbalances. 

Will carriers discharge freight in Beirut at this time?

No updates indicate resumption. Despite the port being operational, carriers are not currently discharging in Beirut due to regional risk and operational uncertainty. 

Can cargo from Europe be moved via Jeddah and then forwarded onward into the Gulf?

Yes. Western Saudi ports (Jeddah, King Abdullah, Yanbu) remain accessible from Europe and serve as reliable alternatives for onward GCC distribution. 

Will changing a port of discharge lead to additional duties?

When moved in bonded status (e.g., from a free zone equivalent setup), cargo can transit without double duty. Duties apply only when cleared into the local market. 

What options exist to move airfreight stuck in Gulf hubs if airspace remains restricted?

Priorities are clearing backlogs through the first available freighter flights and collaborating with carriers. If uplift is limited, DHL uses alternative gateways and coordinates trucking to nearby hubs for onward uplift. 

How stable is uplift on routes such as Leipzig–Mumbai?

Major carriers are resuming operations at limited scale, with schedules gradually ramping up over several days, improving reliability for core routes like Europe–India. 

What transit times and routing options exist for China/Hong Kong → Turkey air freight?

Airfreight into Turkey can be routed via secondary hubs (e.g., Oman, Saudi, or alternative regional hubs), with slight lead time increases depending on congestion. 

If cargo is stuck in closed Middle East hubs, can DHL move it by road to another country and uplift from there?

Yes. Road transfers are part of the contingency plan, enabling cargo to reach open gateways for onward air uplift. 

What alternative air routes exist for EU → Manila if Middle East transit points are restricted?

Cargo can be redirected via secondary hubs including Cairo, Turkey, Oman, or Saudi Arabia, depending on capacity and regulatory feasibility. 

What secondary air hubs can be used if Gulf hubs remain closed?

Cairo and Turkey are key alternatives. DHL can use road bonded solutions from Cairo into the GCC or feed into northern Iraq via Turkey. 

What is the status of road connectivity from Oman and Saudi ports into the GCC?

Road networks to all GCC countries remain open, though specific borders (Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain) may face congestion driven by customs prioritization of FMCG, pharma, and temperature controlled goods. 

Does DHL provide multimodal sea→Jeddah→road into GCC, including support for temperature controlled pharma?

Yes. DHL has operational multimodal solutions via Jeddah and Oman. Temperature controlled and pharma FTL services are available and actively used to support priority cargo.