US-Israel strikes on Iran disrupt global shipping, air cargo

US and Israeli military strikes on Iran have disrupted global supply chains, affecting one of the world’s most critical trade corridors. Major shipping lines are rerouting vessels, suspending services, and adding war-risk fees, while closed Middle East airspace has crippled freight capacity and fractured flight networks.

Peter Sand of freight-rate analytics platform Xeneta said ocean container services in the Persian Gulf had continued until the recent build-up, but the escalation means ships will now avoid the area “for as short a time as possible.” MSC suspended bookings for cargo to the Middle East, Maersk paused Red Sea and Suez Canal sailings and is rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, CMA CGM imposed an Emergency Conflict Surcharge of $2,000–$4,000 per container and ordered vessels to shelter, and Hapag-Lloyd introduced a $1,500 per standard container war risk surcharge and suspended transits through the Strait of Hormuz.

Air freight is under strain as several Middle Eastern airspaces close or restrict traffic.

Iran

us israel, iran, shipping, air cargo, supply chains, suez canal, red sea, maersk, cma cgm, hapag-lloyd