Carriers Halt All Middle East Bookings | Surcharges Skyrocket To $4,000 Per Container

Publish Time: 2026-03-04 Origin: Site

Urgent Shipping Alert – Strait of Hormuz Crisis A series of unprecedented geopolitical incidents has sent shockwaves through global shipping. Iran has announced a full closure of theStrait of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint handling about 20% of the world’s seaborne oil exports. A missile strike sank one oil tanker, and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has declared the area a high-risk zone.

Major carriers have suspended all new bookings to the Middle East, diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, and imposed emergency conflict surcharges as high as $3,000–$4,000 per container. For shippers looking for a reliable DDP shipping rate, or a free quote for alternative routes, now is the time to plan ahead and leave message for professional support.

1. Strait of Hormuz Closed – Vessels Under Threat

On March 2, Iranian authorities formally closed the Strait of Hormuz and warned they would target any vessels attempting to pass.

About 26 oil tankers are waiting near the strait
27 tankers have stopped sailing completely
Total stranded oil volume: ~12 million barrels

The strait is the only maritime exit for crude exports from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait. This disruption has severely impacted global shipping rate stability, especially for DDP shipments to and from the Middle East. If you need a fast & free shipping quote from China to the US, Canada, or Europe, please leave us a message with your details. We will reply to you within 1 hour.

2. Tanker Attacked and Sunk

On March 1, the oil/chemical tanker SKYLIGHT was hit by a missile near the Strait of Hormuz, caught fire and sank. All 20 crew were rescued, but the incident marked a dramatic escalation of security risks. For shippers affected by this crisis, we offer a free quote for alternative DDP shipping solutions, just leave message to get our latest shipping rate.

3. ITF Declares High-Risk Area

The ITF has classified the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters as a high-risk zone, meaning:

Seafarers may refuse to enter
Shipowners must provide enhanced security and insurance
Major oil companies and traders have ordered ships to avoid the area

4. Carriers Suspend Bookings & Impose Extreme Surcharges

4.1 Full Suspension of Middle East Bookings

All top liner companies have stopped accepting new cargo to the Middle East:

MSC: Suspended all bookings to the Middle East; vessels diverted to safe areas
Maersk: Halted reefer & dangerous goods to UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, KSA; ME11/MECL rerouted via Cape of Good Hope
CMA CGM: Stopped bookings to 13 Middle East countries; all Suez Canal sailings suspended
Hapag-Lloyd: Suspended Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf reefer bookings
ONE: Halted all new bookings to the Persian Gulf
Wan Hai: Suspended all Middle East bound cargo

4.2 Emergency Surcharges Surge to $4,000

CMA CGM: Emergency Conflict Surcharge (ECS)

20ft: $2,000
40ft: $3,000
Reefer/Special: $4,000

Hapag-Lloyd: War Risk Surcharge up to $3,500 per unit

With surcharges soaring, securing a competitive DDP shipping rate is more important than ever. We provide a free quote for all routes, simply leave message and we will assist you with tailored solutions.

5. Supply Chain Impact

Ports including Jebel Ali partially suspended
Cape of Good Hope diversion adds 10–14 days to Asia–Europe/USWC voyages
Storage in Middle East may be full within 25 days if closure continues
Freight costs and insurance premiums surge
Schedule reliability collapses

6. Advice for Shippers & Freight Forwarders

Monitor vessel and port status closely
Prepare for long delays and extra costs
Confirm all surcharges and risk coverage with carriers
Plan alternative routings and avoid risky areas until stability returns
Expect sustained high fuel costs and oil price volatility

Get your best DDP shipping rate now!

Leave us an email or message below, and we will send you our latest price immediately. Whether you need a free quote for DDP shipments to the US, Canada, Europe, or alternative routes to avoid the Middle East crisis, we are here to help. Just leave message with your cargo details, and our team will respond within 1 hour.