Hormuz choke‑point crisis
The Strait of Hormuz standoff has escalated—Iran warned it could close the waterway indefinitely while the US and Tehran traded threats, and President Trump announced a provisional five‑day pause on US strikes amid talks. Maersk and other carriers are rerouting cargo onto landbridges and absorbing steep inland fuel surcharges, while 20+ nations have urged Iran to stop mine‑laying and attacks on shipping—analysts warn container rates and insurance premiums have spiked and Gulf‑to‑US supply chains are being rewritten. (lloydslist.com) (independent.co.uk) (container-mag.com) (businesstoday.in)
Maersk said it has expanded multimodal “landbridge” routes through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq to keep cargo moving while Gulf sea transits are disrupted. (maersk.com)) The line has also imposed an Emergency Bunker Surcharge for long‑haul trades—USD100–200 per 20ft and USD200–400 per 40ft (reefers up to USD600)—effective March 25, 2026 and to be reviewed every 14 days. (container-news.com)) Major carriers including Maersk, Hapag‑Lloyd, CMA CGM and MSC have rerouted Middle East sailings around the Cape of Good Hope and suspended regular transits through the Strait of Hormuz and some Suez/Bab el‑Mandeb crossings. (bairdmaritime.com)) War‑risk insurance costs have jumped sharply—insurers are pricing cover at roughly 5% of a vessel’s value in some cases, while hull premiums are being set to double and some Gulf war‑risk policies have been cancelled. (ttnews.com)) A joint statement from more than 20 countries — including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK and the UAE — called on Iran to stop mine‑laying, drone and missile attacks and offered readiness to help secure commercial navigation. (harbingersdaily.com)) Spot and contract freight indices are climbing: Drewry’s WCI rose to about USD2,172 per 40ft and the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index jumped roughly 28–30% since late February, adding immediate cost pressure to Gulf‑to‑US supply chains. (gcaptain.com))
