Update: 30.03.2026

Latest developments across the region

The conflict in the Middle East has entered another week, with security concerns continuing to affect maritime trade routes and regional supply chains.

Recent statements from the Iran‑aligned Houthis indicate a heightened readiness to expand military activity into additional maritime chokepoints, underlining the fragile operating environment for commercial shipping.

Should the conflict broaden, strategic passages such as the Bab al‑Mandab Strait could face renewed disruption, adding further strain to east‑west trade lanes already under pressure due to restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Any escalation at these points would carry significant implications for global energy markets and containerised trade flows.

At the same time, regional governments are advancing alternative transport corridors to maintain trade continuity. Saudi Arabia Railways has launched an international freight route linking eastern Saudi ports with Al‑Haditha on the Jordanian border.

Carrier updated response

Ocean carriers continue to adapt their networks in response to closures and restricted access in the Gulf. Bookings have gradually reopened for selected destinations, with a growing reliance on landbridge solutions and inland transport across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Iraq.

Carriers also report mounting cost pressure, driven primarily by rising bunker prices, higher war‑risk insurance premiums and additional inland handling requirements. These factors are affecting not only sailing costs, but also hinterland operations and container repositioning, contributing to higher end‑to‑end logistics expenses.

Hapag-Lloyd has acknowledged that the financial impact of the current disruption has reached tens of millions of dollars per week, underscoring the scale of cost exposure linked to fuel consumption, insurance, storage and extended transit times.

Situation at impacted ports

Port conditions across the region remain mixed.

A security incident at Port of Salalah, Oman, on 28 March 2026 involving reported drone activity led to the temporary suspension of terminal operations. The container terminal remains under assessment, and as of 30 March, cargo handling activities have not yet fully resumed.

In Kuwait, Shuwaikh Port was affected by a drone strike on 27 March, resulting in infrastructure damage. The port is currently operating with restrictions under Security Level 2, with partial functionality restored.

Key alternative gateways into the Middle East from Eastern origins, such as the ports Khor al Fakkan, Al-Fujairah and Sohar, are facing extreme congestion inside and outside the terminals.

The congestion at these ports is further straining intermodal capacity constraints, causing trucker shortages on most corridors. Fuel and trucking costs are, therefore, likely to increase in the next few weeks.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, most ports continue to operate normally, although operators remain on heightened alert.

Vessel situation and risks

Vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz have shown extreme volatility in recent days. While transits briefly increased towards the end of March, activity declined sharply again as military operations intensified in the area.

Although no additional physical attacks on container vessels have been confirmed over the weekend, total reported incidents remain elevated since the start of the conflict.

Notably, two ultra‑large container vessels operated by COSCO Shipping executed late course reversals while attempting to exit the Gulf, turning back shortly after entering the approved transit corridor near Larak Island. The ships were later allowed exit.

These vessels are part of the MEX service connecting Chinese ports with Middle Eastern hubs such as Dammam and Jebel Ali. Their diversions mark the third and fourth instances of abrupt course changes by large container ships in the area, reflecting persistent uncertainty around safe passage.

In parallel, a limited number of countries have reportedly reached bilateral arrangements allowing their vessels to transit the strait. To date, these include China, Russia, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia, though access remains subject to rapid change.

The list of potentially affected vessels in the Persian Gulf can be found here. Due to a rise in Global Navigation Satellite System interference, data can show inaccurate positions.

Kuehne+Nagel continues to monitor the situation closely with timely updates on SeaNews and the Kuehne+Nagel page Middle East situation - Kuehne+Nagel operations. 

For the latest port and vessel statuses or situation updates, please refer to the seaexplorer alert map. 

Update: 24.03.2026

Latest developments across the region

Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remain elevated following renewed warnings from both Washington and Tehran. Over the weekend, the United States signalled it might escalate its response should Iran maintain restrictions on the strait, prompting Tehran to threaten a broader closure.

By Monday, however, the US administration temporarily stepped back from immediate military action, citing progress in diplomatic exchanges aimed at easing the conflict, something Tehran denies.

Meanwhile, most Gulf and Levant ports continue operating normally despite sporadic security incidents. Several regional terminals reported small‑scale disruptions, though none have resulted in prolonged shutdowns.

Authorities across the Middle East remain on heightened alert, and logistics flows are being closely monitored as the situation evolves.

Carrier updated response

Container carriers are adapting to the prolonged instability with revised network plans across the Gulf.

Several lines have reinstated short‑sea feeders and connection loops between India, Oman and northern UAE ports to safeguard cargo continuity, while others are deploying additional vessels that were previously underutilised.

At the same time, carriers continue to rely on ad hoc sailings from Asia into alternative gateways such as Red Sea ports to maintain regional access.

Despite the volatile security environment, operators report that overall service reliability is stabilising as the new routings bed in and congestion temporarily eases.

Situation at impacted ports

Although isolated attacks have been recorded near certain oil and gas installations, major commercial ports have not faced new direct strikes in recent days.

Most maritime hubs in the Gulf are functioning normally, though local restrictions remain possible due to heightened security controls.

In Kuwait, Shuaiba port resumed partial operations after a brief halt earlier in the week and is functioning under security level 2 measures. Bahrain's ports continue to operate, and the remainder of the region’s key terminals report standard activity levels.

Beyond the Gulf, conflict‑related incidents in southern Lebanon and Beirut continue to raise the risk of inland transport interruptions, even though port operations have not been officially suspended.

Vessel situation and risks

Iran has maintained a controlled transit system through what it designates as a “safe corridor” for vessels that have secured passage approvals and completed payment arrangements.

Governments, including Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Iraq and China, are in active discussions with Tehran to facilitate planned transits for their respective fleets.

While the strait remains accessible for some global shipping, Iranian authorities continue to block vessels associated with nations deemed “enemies” of Iran. The criteria for this designation remain unclear, creating operational uncertainty for shipowners.

The recent fire reported on the Safeen Prestige, weeks after the vessel was initially attacked, has raised questions about the stability of abandoned ships in the conflict zone. Satellite imagery showing renewed smoke suggests either a secondary incident or structural flare‑ups linked to earlier damage.

In parallel, aChinese‑owned feeder shiphas become the first mainland‑Chinese vessel confirmed to have used the Larak Island corridor under Iran’s approval and paid transit system. According to Lloyd’s List, more than 20 vessels have now been tracked using this channel, mostly Greek‑owned, alongside Indian, Pakistani, Syrian and Iranian tonnage.

The list of potentially affected vessels in the Persian Gulf can be found here. Due to a rise in Global Navigation Satellite System interference, data can show inaccurate positions.

Kuehne+Nagel continues to monitor the situation closely with timely updates on SeaNews and the Kuehne+Nagel page Middle East situation - Kuehne+Nagel operations. 

For the latest port and vessel statuses or situation updates, please refer to the seaexplorer alert map. 

Update: 24.03.2026

Latest developments across the region

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to reshape vessel deployment and cargo flows across the wider Middle East and South Asia.

Carriers have diverted Gulf‑bound ships to alternative hubs, including Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sohar, Salalah, and ports in India and Southeast Asia, resulting in temporary congestion and increased reliance on feeder networks and long‑haul trucking.

Industry intelligence suggests that while congestion remains manageable, pressure on bunker supply is growing across Asia, with China currently the least affected. Network adjustments, combined with elevated security risks, continue to place strain on port operations, inland transport capacity and overall schedule reliability.

This update consolidates the latest carrier advisories, port conditions, and vessel intelligence as of 17 March 2026. Earlier updates can be found through this link.

Carrier updated response

Most major carriers continue to limit bookings to and from ports impacted by the Gulf closure.

While some carriers resumed accepting reefer and dry cargo bookings into some ports in the region, such as Jeddah, King Abdullah, Sohar and Khor Fakkan, they also placed restrictions on the return of empty containers.

In addition, some liners announced deploying multimodal corridors via Jeddah, Sohar, Aqaba and Mersin to maintain cargo connectivity.

Situation at impacted ports

Operations across most regional ports remain stable, although selected locations continue to experience targeted disruptions.

A recent fire near the crude export terminal in Al-Fujairah, following the interception of a drone, briefly interrupted some loading activities. These operations have since resumed, though authorities have issued a navigational warning regarding intermittent GPS signal interference offshore.

In Bahrain, vessel movements have restarted but are constrained due to limited pilot availability. APM Terminals has resumed operations, and all other major ports in the region report normal performance.

Vessel situation and risks

Security incidents remain a significant operational concern.

On 11 March, the container vessel ONE Majesty (6,724 TEU) reported impact damage approximately 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, resulting in a small hull breach but no injuries.

On 12 March, the Source Blessing, operating on an intra‑Middle East service, was struck by falling missile debris near Jebel Ali, causing a fire onboard. The crew remained unharmed, and the situation was contained.

The latest situation concerning impacted vessels remains relatively unchanged. The latest number of vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf is calculated at 124 vessels with 168,000 TEUs. The list of potentially affected vessels in the Persian Gulf can be found here. Due to a rise in Global Navigation Satellite System interference, data can show inaccurate positions.

Kuehne+Nagel continues to monitor the situation closely with timely updates on SeaNews and the Kuehne+Nagel page Middle East situation - Kuehne+Nagel operations. 

For the latest port and vessel statuses or situation updates, please refer to the seaexplorer alert map.