On March 19, Maersk released "Middle East Operational Update 13". The focus of this update is not on the general "tense situation in the Middle East", but rather on the actual charges and transportation routes.
For import and export goods to Iraq, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Jubail), Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman (excluding Salalah), Maersk has begun to impose an Emergency Freight. At the same time, Maersk continues to expand its land bridge and multimodal transport alternatives via Jeddah, Sohar, Salalah, Holfekham, and Aqaba.
This means two things: first, freight rates will change immediately; second, delivery routes and delivery times will continue to fluctuate.
How much was added this time?
Maersk's latest emergency shipping rates are as follows:
| Box type | Additional charges |
|---|---|
| 20-foot standard cabinet | $1800/counter |
| 40-foot standard cabinet | $3,000 per container |
| Refrigerated display cases, special display cases, and dangerous goods display cases | $3,800 per container |
This fee applies to goods originating from or destined for ports within the relevant region. Maersk has clarified that this fee covers alternative routes, temporary transshipment storage, additional charter arrangements, and may be subject to further adjustments.
What areas are affected?
The areas targeted in this roll call were clearly defined, mainly including:
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Eastern Saudi Arabia: Dammam, Jubail
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman (except Salalah)
If your goods are destined for ports in Taiwan or need to be transshipped in these areas, you should basically read this notice.
Maersk's alternative path
According to official updates, Maersk is directing more cargo volume to land bridge and multimodal transport solutions, with key nodes including:
- Connecting Saudi Arabia's inland regions and neighboring Gulf countries via Jeddah Port
- Connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar via Sohar and Salalah.
- Connecting the Gulf hinterland via Horfelkan and Fujairah
- The Iraq route could take the Aqaba option.
Simply put, goods that used to go directly to Shangwan now increasingly have to be rerouted and transported by land or multimodal transport to their final destination.
How to handle goods in transit?
If the goods are already en route, Maersk offers three options:
1) Continue the original planned voyage, but temporarily store the data.
This is also the default handling approach. The official instructions clearly state: emergency shipping fees include 14 days of transit storage. After 14 days, storage fees will continue to be charged, with the standard being... $25/TEU/dayThe freezer will also incur additional costs for monitoring and power supply.
2) Return to Origin
This means returning the item to its origin, but this depends on the feasibility of the operation and requires payment of standard COD fees and additional shipping costs.
3) Change of Destination
Changing the port or final destination also requires assessing operational feasibility and paying the corresponding COD fees and additional shipping costs.
Maersk also extended the selection period to March 25, 2026If the customer does not confirm the solution before the deadline, the flight may be terminated.
Direct impact on shippers
This adjustment will have four most direct impacts.
First, the quote cannot be calculated according to the original plan.
The price increase is particularly significant for 40-foot containers, refrigerated containers, and dangerous goods containers. Many projects that were previously manageable will see their profit margins significantly squeezed after the addition of emergency shipping fees.
Second, the delivery time is more unstable.
Once temporary storage, port changes, or land bridges are used, the timeliness is no longer just a matter of "ships being delayed by a few days," but the entire supply chain may be rewritten.
Third, booking restrictions are becoming stricter.
The official update also mentioned that booking restrictions for different types of cargo have been significantly tightened. Refrigerated containers, dangerous goods, and oversized cargo will be more affected, with some ports only retaining limited capacity.
Fourth, the return of empty containers is also affected.
Maersk has adjusted its empty container return arrangements for some regions. Currently, the designated empty container return points mainly mention:
- Oman: Salalah
- Saudi Arabia: Jeddah
This will also bring additional coordination costs to the import end and the return of boxes.
CZL's judgment
The signal sent by this notification is very direct:The flow of goods in the Gulf has not yet returned to a state where it can be operated according to regular pricing and delivery times.
If you are currently shipping to Iraq, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, or similar destinations, we recommend confirming the following points in advance:
- Will this shipment be transported directly from the original port, or will it be diverted to a land bridge/multimodal transport solution?
- Does the quote include Emergency Freight separately?
- If the goods are already en route, the customer is prepared to choose whether to continue shipping, change the port, or return them to the point of origin.
- Can refrigerated containers, hazardous materials containers, and special containers still be loaded normally?
Practical advice for clients
If you are planning to ship goods related to the Middle East Gulf recently, you can check them in this order:
- First, confirm whether the port of destination or transit port is within the scope of this impact.
- Have the carrier or agent provide a breakdown of any additional charges, rather than just looking at a single total price.
- For goods already in transit, confirm the handling plan as soon as possible; do not delay until the last minute.
- For goods with high time sensitivity, first ask whether it will be transported by land bridge, where the transit point is, and whether there will be temporary warehousing.
If you need a shipping cost calculation first, you can take a look. CZL shipping cost inquiryIf you want to understand all the additional fees first, you can also refer to this. Additional Fee Inquiry.
Source
- Maersk official update: Middle East Operational Update 13
If you have a shipment destined for the Gulf and are unsure whether this adjustment will affect your costs and shipping methods, you can contact CZL directly to get a route and cost assessment first.