Several of the world’s largest container shipping lines have suspended sailings, cancelled bookings and rerouted services in response to heightened security risks accompanying the ongoing Middle East conflict.
What’s happening:
Global carriers are withdrawing from the Persian Gulf and adjacent routes after the escalation of the Iran conflict, with many lines pausing Gulf transit, rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope and imposing security-related charges.
Carrier actions:
- CMA CGM has suspended transit through the Gulf and the Suez Canal, directing vessels to safer waters and cancelling new bookings to the Middle East. It has also introduced an emergency conflict surcharge to offset elevated risks.
- Hapag-Lloyd has halted all vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz and is rerouting services around Africa. The line is applying war risk surcharges for cargo moving to and from Gulf ports.
- Maersk has paused sailings through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, diverting key services such as ME11 and MECL around the Cape of Good Hope.
- MSC has suspended all worldwide bookings to the Middle East region and instructed vessels in the Gulf to seek designated safe anchorages.
Why carriers are taking action:
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint carrying roughly 20% of the world’s oil exports, has effectively seen traffic collapse after Iranian warnings and attacks on vessels. Although not legally blockaded, industry sources say the safety situation is untenable for routine transits.
Broader impact:
- Diversions around the Cape of Good Hope add significant transit time and bunker fuel costs, contributing to schedule disruption.
- War risk premiums and emergency surcharges are now widespread, increasing freight rates out of the Middle East.
- Insurance providers have withdrawn or sharply repriced war risk cover for Gulf transits, compounding commercial uncertainty.
Market implications:
Blank sailings, rolled bookings and congestion risks at alternative hubs such as Salalah or Khor Fakkan are emerging as carriers reshape network plans. Even without a formal closure of the Strait, the withdrawal of major lines represents a de-facto reduction in service reliability for regional container trades.
