The Impact of the US-Iran Conflict on Global Logistics

2026 March, 2

Major shipping lines are announcing large-scale changes one after another due to the drastically deteriorating security situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Here is what you need to know, based on official announcements from shipping lines as of March 1, 2026.

Bookings:

Evergreen is completely suspending the acceptance of new bookings to/from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea region.
MSC has temporarily suspended all cargo bookings to the Middle East from around the world.
CMA CGM has suspended all reefer container bookings from the Middle East region.

Routes:

Maersk has completely suspended transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and Maersk are halting voyages through the Suez Canal and rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope (Africa).

Vessels:

CMA CGM, MSC, and COSCO have issued urgent instructions to all vessels currently in or heading toward the Persian Gulf to immediately seek safe haven and drop anchor in safe waters.

Surcharges:

Shipping lines have introduced War Risk Surcharges and Emergency Conflict Surcharges, which have instantly driven up transportation costs.
CMA CGM has implemented a 2,000 USD surcharge for 20-foot containers and 3,000 USD for 40-foot containers, as well as a 4,000 USD surcharge for reefers.
Hapag-Lloyd has introduced a 1,500 USD surcharge for standard containers and 3,500 USD for specialized containers.
Evergreen has also informed that additional surcharges will be announced shortly.

Consequences:

Over 60 container ships are already stranded in the Persian Gulf, accounting for about 200,000 TEU (0.6% of the global fleet), which will lead to a shortage of vessels in the market.
Oil prices have surged by 8-9%, ensuring an overall increase in costs.

Due to stranded vessels and route changes, Asian ports will soon be overwhelmed with congestion. Freight rates will rise sharply, and the impact will be felt not only in the Asian region but globally.

If your cargo is currently in the Middle East region or on route there, please contact us – we will help you navigate this situation 📧 info@tlclogistics.lt