Latest developments across the region
Iran has proposed lifting its restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz while also calling for an end to the United States’ blockade, reports the Associated Press this morning, 27 April, citing two regional officials involved in closed‑door discussions.
Meanwhile, container carriers have announced operational adjustments in response to the situation, including temporary booking pauses on selected Middle East landside bookings.
This update contains the latest development as of 27 April 2026. Earlier updates can be found through this link.
Carrier updated response
Maersk has temporarily paused selected landside bookings involving the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Jeddah and Khor Fakkan, including a restriction on reefer cargo from Khor Fakkan to the UAE.
The Gemini Cooperation will suspend the JD2 and JD3 Mediterranean–Saudi Arabia shuttle services from mid May, with cargo reassigned to the SE4 mainline service linking Jeddah with Mediterranean hubs and onward Asian connections.
Situation at impacted ports
Port conditions across the Middle East region remain stable, with all ports in the Persian Gulf operational.
The effective closure of the Strait has increased pressure on the Panama Canal, where unreserved vessel arrivals have risen, leading to longer southbound waiting times and higher auction slot costs during April.
According to the Panama Canal, the average time waiting reached 5.5 days in the Atlantic to Pacific direction for the queue of vessels arriving without a reservation.
Vessel situation and risks
Transits through the Strait of Hormuz have declined following recent attacks on non‑Iranian‑linked vessels, with only limited movements recorded over a two‑day period, primarily involving Iranian trade.
Meanwhile, dozens of containerships operated by the world’s top 10 container lines remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.
During a call last week, Hapag-Lloyd mentioned that one of its ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, without mentioning further details. Four out of initially six ships operated by the carrier remain in the Gulf.
The latest seaexplorer data shows that there are 104 container vessels currently trapped in the Persian Gulf, with a capacity of 349,303 TEU combined. With the ongoing disruption of GPS signals in the region, accurate information cannot be guaranteed.
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.
