European ports have, so far, escaped the impact of the Hormuz Strait closure and the disruption it caused in the Middle East. While this may be true for the time being, port authorities believe conditions may change as the situation remains unresolved.
Energy risks first
For ports in Europe, the most immediate consequence relates to energy markets. Container shipping, however, faces a lower level of direct exposure.
According to a report by ShippingWatch, the Belgian Port of Antwerp may experience the most visible effect impacting fossil fuel-related cargo flows. Cargo linked to the Gulf region represented 2.8% of the port's total volumes in 2025, approximately 7.5 million metric tonnes.
The Port of Antwerp also works closely with the Port of Zeebrugge, where Qatar accounts for 14% of liquefied natural gas traffic.
In neighbouring Rotterdam, the port is yet to report any operational impact linked to the situation in the Middle East. Nevertheless, port authorities note that it could be impacted if the conflict continues.
Container flow second
While both Antwerp and Rotterdam see no immediate effects, including risks of a fuel supply shortage, they may face operational pressure if large numbers of vessels arrive simultaneously after delays elsewhere caused by the conflict.
Port operator APM Terminals is working to reduce the risk of congestion at terminals where capacity could come under strain, reports ShippingWatch.
These efforts are currently focused on the Arabian Gulf, although other hubs may also be affected if cargo needs to be rerouted or stored temporarily.
Hapag‑Lloyd warns that the longer the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, the more difficult it will be for container traffic to return to normal conditions.
The carrier states that clearing containers currently stored at ports in Oman, India, and other locations, and delivering them to destinations in the Persian Gulf, could take weeks or months.
Current "moderate-to-severe bottlenecks"
The combined impact of tension in the Middle East is not new. Disruption in the Red Sea has already diverted Asia–Europe container volumes around the Cape of Good Hope, and the situation in Hormuz adds another layer of operational complexity.
Talking to ShippingWatch, Xeneta's Chief Analyst Peter Sand highlighted some challenges that European ports are currently facing.
Analysis from Xeneta shows that key ports such as Antwerp, Marseille, Trieste, and Algeciras are already grappling with "moderate-to-severe bottlenecks."
“These ports are already overburdened, so when further disruptions occur, they exacerbate the problem,” Peter Sand tells ShippingWatch. He noted that these challenges haven't eased in months.
Things are almost as bad as they have been for the past year and a half
Xeneta Chief Analyst
A recent strike held by truckers in Italy is expected to cause significant effects for road and rail logistics, consequently impacting container traffic at ports.
Because the port in Zeebrugge, Belgium, handles rail transport from the Italian port of Trieste, a ripple effect is expected to impact cargo movement between the two nations.
More broadly, the situation highlights how closely interconnected global port systems have become.
Disruption at a single chokepoint or inland node can quickly cascade across regions, affecting vessel schedules, hinterland transport and cargo flows far beyond the original source of delay.
