Global Corporate Moving continues to operate within a highly volatile shipping environment shaped by geopolitical instability, restricted trade routes, fluctuating carrier operations and rising transport costs. Ongoing disruption across the Middle East is affecting freight capacity, routing structures and shipment reliability across multiple global trades. Organisations managing international relocations should remain prepared for changing transit schedules, operational surcharges and evolving service availability across affected regions.
Middle East conflict continues to disrupt shipping operations
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt container shipping and oil exports across the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. These conditions are creating ripple effects across wider shipping trades globally, affecting freight capacity, vessel scheduling and operational reliability.
While some carriers have cautiously begun reintroducing selected services into the region using alternative routings, operations remain highly fluid and services may be changed or withdrawn at short notice. Available capacity also remains significantly lower than traditional all-water routings into Gulf destinations.
Alternative routing structures involving feeder services, transshipment hubs and overland transport are increasing operational complexity and cost. Inland transport legs continue to carry significantly higher charges, with pricing changing frequently and making long-term freight quotations difficult to maintain. In addition to war risk and emergency fuel surcharges, carriers are now introducing further operational surcharges linked to terminal handling, feeder operations and wider supply chain disruption.
Freight rates agreed before the conflict are also no longer being consistently honoured by shipping lines. This may result in previously quoted shipment costs increasing where carriers withdraw services, alter routings or omit scheduled ports. In some cases, bookings must be transferred to alternative sailings with higher freight costs and extended transit times due to operational changes outside the control of moving companies.
Shipment delays and vessel congestion continue
Many containers already in transit when the conflict escalated remain delayed at alternative ports, particularly in India, with onward schedules still subject to change. Congestion, vessel omissions and rolled containers continue to affect shipment reliability, with some containers not being loaded as scheduled and instead moved to later sailings.
New shipments also remain exposed to force majeure declarations or end-of-voyage scenarios should regional conditions deteriorate further or carriers suspend services unexpectedly. Organisations and relocating employees should therefore remain prepared for delays, additional storage charges and changing routing arrangements where required.
The wider impact of rising oil costs is also now being seen across additional shipping trades and inland transport services using trucking networks. Many carrier surcharges are being introduced with minimal notice, meaning freight costs can change between quotation stage and final shipment departure.
Carriers introduce revised Middle East routing structures
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced a new Europe–Red Sea–Middle East express service designed to maintain regional connectivity while bypassing disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The service will connect European ports with Aqaba, King Abdullah Port and Jeddah via the Suez Canal, with onward inland transport connections into Gulf destinations including the UAE.
MSC stated that the service will provide faster multimodal alternatives for cargo movements across the region. The first vessel is scheduled to depart Antwerp on 10 May.
Hapag-Lloyd has also confirmed that selected rates are now available again for new Middle East bookings, although revised routing structures are being used in some cases to support operational continuity. These rates currently carry limited validity periods of 30 days and remain subject to regional developments and carrier review.
Jebel Ali is currently being serviced using overland routing arrangements via Khor Al Fakkan rather than traditional direct discharge services, resulting in significantly higher operational costs. Jeddah and Salalah remain available at previous rate levels, subject to applicable war risk and fuel surcharges.
Space across these services remains limited and all bookings continue to be subject to carrier acceptance and operational availability.
New containership orders reach record levels
According to maritime consultancy Linerlytica, orders for new container vessels have reached a record 13 million TEUs. Ships currently on order now exceed the combined active fleets of Maersk, CMA CGM and COSCO, a level not seen in nearly two decades. In 2026 to date, new orders represent more than 1.9 million TEU, with forecasts suggesting orders could exceed 5.1 million TEUs this year. The Drewry World Container Index has also fallen for the third consecutive week to US$2,216 per FEU, driven by softer rates across Asia-Europe, transpacific and transatlantic routes. Analysts expect continued downward pressure on freight rates due to excess capacity and lower demand. Growing vessel capacity may help improve long-term freight availability and place downward pressure on some shipping costs over time.
Strategic considerations for organisations
Organisations managing international relocations should continue to monitor geopolitical developments and shipping market conditions closely, particularly where routes remain exposed to operational disruption or cost volatility. Flexible planning, early booking and close communication with relocation providers remain important to maintain shipment visibility, respond quickly to changing carrier conditions and manage operational risk across moving programmes.
Santa Fe Relocation continues to monitor market developments and regional conditions closely to support informed decision-making across Corporate Moving programmes. For further guidance, please contact your designated Santa Fe consultant.
Henk Schutte
Group Move Supply Chain Manager
Santa Fe Relocation
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