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Middle East Tensions and Delays for Container Ships and Airfreight
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Maersk reported that the Port of Salalah was hit by a drone-related security incident on March 28, 2026, damaging a terminal crane and suspending operations. Salalah is open but high-risk for schedule slippage, especially for transshipment cargo tied to Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd/Gemini-type routings, Pakistan/Gulf cargo, or anything affected by the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden/Strait of Hormuz situation. Salalah port is operating, but due to recent regional security incidents and war-related rerouting, carriers are reporting congestion and possible delays. Cargo transshipping via Salalah should be closely monitored for schedule changes, rolled connections, and extended dwell times.
Hormuz disruption continues to trap 79% of vessels
79% of container vessels remain trapped in the Gulf after Hormuz disruption, tightening capacity and raising freight costs
Excerpted from LogisticsMiddleEast.com, by Nathan Baker
May 12, 2026
Fifty three container vessels were trapped inside the Persian Gulf when transits through the Strait of Hormuz became untenable, with 79% still unable to exit two months later, according to Kpler Container Intelligence data.
Only nine vessels have successfully exited the Strait, including two that required a second attempt, while two vessels were seized and one sustained damage. This leaves 42 vessels and associated cargo in prolonged commercial limbo.
Carrier exposure
Carrier level data shows uneven exposure and recovery outcomes across fleets. CMA CGM had 15 vessels in the Gulf but extracted only two, representing an 87% entrapment rate.
MSC recorded the most complex situation with 14 vessels affected, including two seizures, while eight remain inside despite four successful exits.
COSCO achieved the highest relative success, with two vessels exiting on second attempts, suggesting differentiated transit strategies.
Other carriers including Evergreen, Yang Ming, ONE, HMM and Wan Hai recorded zero successful exits, leaving all affected vessels stranded.
Capacity removal tightens
The immobilisation of 53 vessels has removed tens of thousands of TEUs from active rotation, reducing effective capacity while vessels continue incurring fuel and port costs without generating revenue.
For cargo owners, the disruption has shifted from short term delays to forced rerouting. High value cargo has moved via alternative corridors at higher cost, while low margin shipments such as construction materials face extended delays due to limited viable alternatives.
Rerouting shifts congestion pressure
With direct transit suspended, cargo flows have been redirected to alternative hubs including Salalah, Khor Fakkan and other Indian Ocean transshipment ports.
These ports are now operating beyond baseline conditions, with congestion, vessel queues and waiting times increasing as rerouted volumes accumulate.
Service rotations have been restructured to bypass Gulf ports, reducing schedule reliability and forcing carriers to omit calls or redesign routes.
Per Dubai Cargoes
Airfreight in the Middle East has severe service disruptions, including flight diversions, limited capacity and increased rates. Key hubs like Dubai are facing flight holds and capacity caps, while air space restrictions and fuel cost spikes are forcing rerouting and capacity shortages.
As of May 10, Dubai has imposed a one-rotation-per-day cap on foreign airlines — in force through May 31, 2026. Combined with the 39% air cargo capacity reduction caused by Gulf airspace closures, this cap is creating the most severe air cargo constraint Dubai has seen since the pandemic.
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