Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM Halt Bookings, Pass Iran War Shipping Costs to Consumers

Major global carriers including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM have halted new bookings for Gulf-bound cargo and warned customers that Iran-related disruptions will void service guarantees, while integrators like UPS and DHL have activated contingency plans as airspaces and maritime routes close.

“- Published Increased shipping costs driven by the conflict in Iran will be passed on to consumers, the boss of the world's second biggest shipping company has said”

BBC

Material Handling and Logistics reported carriers have “activated established contingency plans” and that “service guarantees do not apply to shipments affected by the disruption,” noting UPS’s reliance on overflight rights and hub connectivity and DHL saying “the safety of our employees is our highest priority.”

BBC

The BBC added that the Strait of Hormuz is “effectively closed because of Iran's threats to target shipping,” and quoted industry leaders saying it is “very hard for us to put our colleagues and our ships in harm's way.”

Capacity strains are tangible: analysts estimate thousands of ships are affected and key Gulf hubs and Gulf-based air cargo capacity have been disrupted, forcing reroutes and charters that raise transit times and costs.

Material Handling and Logistics cited Clarksons Research (via the Associated Press) estimating “about 3,200 ships, or about 4% of global ship tonnage, are idle inside the Persian Gulf.”

Material Handling and Logistics

Freightos warned that Gulf carrier hub strikes have grounded Emirates SkyCargo and Qatar Airways hubs and that those carriers plus Etihad represent about 13% of global air cargo capacity.

The BBC reported data suggesting 132 ships remained stuck in the Gulf, and also said some vessels have turned off transponders making exact counts hard to confirm.

Shipping companies are already passing higher war-related costs to customers, with both container surcharges and route-specific emergency fees rising sharply.

“- Published Increased shipping costs driven by the conflict in Iran will be passed on to consumers, the boss of the world's second biggest shipping company has said”

BBC

Material Handling and Logistics reported CMA CGM has “introduced a $3,000/FEU emergency surcharge for Gulf-bound cargo” and that Freightos showed terminal rates climbing to over $4,000/FEU on Shanghai-Jebel Ali.

The BBC said extra costs equate to “around $200 for a standard 20ft shipping container,” which can mean “anything from a 15% to a 20% increase on some of the freight cost.”

Maersk, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd have also increased charges as carriers try to cover fuel, rerouting and capacity constraints.

Analysts and executives warn higher freight costs and disrupted routes will feed into consumer prices and create localised shortages, especially for food and petrochemicals, while some logistics responses (land bridges, charters) mitigate but cannot fully replace sea volume.

Material Handling and Logistics quoted Patrick Penfield saying “This is really causing some major impacts within the global supply chain.”

Material Handling and Logistics

Freightos noted Asia-Europe and China-US air rates climbing by double digits in some lanes.

The BBC’s Maersk CEO warned land routes can help but “it is hard to move the same volume by land as by sea,” and that some exports like petrochemicals may “have to take the back seat for a while.”

Responses proposed range from temporary naval escorts to market adaptations, but industry leaders emphasise the limits and risks of military protection and the need for a political solution to restore normal trade flows.

“- Published Increased shipping costs driven by the conflict in Iran will be passed on to consumers, the boss of the world's second biggest shipping company has said”

BBC

The BBC said governments including the United States and France have suggested naval escorts and quoted the Maersk boss that "effective" protection could be "at least a temporary reprieve" while also warning he was not willing to put staff at risk.

BBC

Material Handling and Logistics described forwarders already chartering direct Far East-West flights and warned backlogs could begin stacking up, underscoring that while some short-term measures can ease pressure, uncertainty about the duration of the conflict could prolong higher costs and disrupted schedules.