Global shipping chokepoints worsen
War-driven rerouting is choking global trade and fueling port congestion that’s now hitting Caribbean supply chains — analysts say the U.S.-Israel war on Iran has made delays and spot-rate spikes the new normal. Western naval efforts failed to secure Red Sea routes, raising doubts about protecting Strait of Hormuz traffic and prolonging elevated freight and energy costs. ( )
An analysis by Reuters on March 25, 2026 says Western naval attempts to secure Red Sea shipping cost billions and failed to stop Houthi attacks, a precedent analysts say makes protecting Strait of Hormuz traffic “far harder” going forward (msn.com)). Industry trackers estimate rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope adds roughly 10–14 days and up to about 11,000 nautical miles to Asia‑Europe voyages, increasing fuel burn and voyage costs dramatically for carriers. (container-news.com)) Benchmark freight indices show the cost impact: Drewry’s World Container Index rose to $2,172 per 40ft container in the week of March 19, 2026, a 2% weekly increase that reflects Middle East tensions and supply‑side squeezes. (drewry.co.uk)) Carriers have responded with emergency bunker surcharges and selective blank sailings, while prioritising reefer cargo and reordering loading practices—measures that have raised schedule volatility and short‑term spot‑rate spikes. (maritimenews.com)) Real‑time congestion tools and forwarders report elevated vessel wait times and high yard utilisation at several Caribbean gateways, with live dashboards flagging medium–high congestion in Kingston, Santo Domingo and Bridgetown this month. (portcast.io)) Terminal data and regional operator updates show pockets of acute strain—DP World’s Caucedo has recorded yard utilisations near historical highs and prior reports cited 2–6 hour waiting windows for truck appointments—raising demurrage risk for hospitality imports. (mykn.kuehne-nagel.com)) Analysts warn the reroute‑driven rise in voyage days is tying up working capital and increasing per‑voyage costs by hundreds of thousands to as much as ~$1 million for some deep‑sea services, magnifying inventory holding costs for multi‑property hotel groups dependent on steady container flows. (informedclearly.com))
