Strait of Hormuz remains heavily restricted; GCC simplifications help maintain cargo flows; shippers introduce emergency fuel surcharges; road and multimodal solutions are increasingly used as key alternatives.

07.03

The US announced a $20 billion reinsurance program to revive shipping in the Strait of Hormuz

06.03 Trump announced a $20bn (£14.85bn) reinsurance scheme to revive shipping through the strait, which he said would come into effect immediately. He followed up by saying that ship-owners should “show some guts” by sailing through the war zone.

Source: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2026/03/07/us-launches-20-billion-reinsurance-plan-to-revive-shipping-in-strait-of-hormuz/

09.03

Shipper MSC introduces emergency fuel surcharges

Shipping company MSC announced emergency fuel surcharges on cargo from the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions to the Indian subcontinent, the Red Sea and East Africa.

The move includes the West Mediterranean, Adriatic, the East Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey and applies from March 16 until March 31.

Western Mediterranean and Adriatic to Red Sea: $60 for dry containers, $90 for refrigerated.
To East Africa: $135 for dry containers, $200 for refrigerated.
To Indian sub-continent: $85 for dry containers, $130 for refrigerated.

Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea to Red Sea: $70 for dry containers, $100 for refrigerated.
To East Africa: $155 for dry containers, $230 for refrigerated.
To Indian sub-continent: $100 for dry containers, $150 for refrigerated containers.

Source: https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/shipper-msc-introduces-emergency-fuel-surcharges-4549830

09.03

Emergency Fuel Surcharge - Trade Europe to Southern Africa Region

(for trade Europe to Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique)). The updated surcharge reflects continued changes in prevailing market condition and will be effective from 30 March 2026 (VATOS) until further notice.

Source: https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/customer-advisories/2026/march/emergency-fuel-surcharge-trade-europe-to-southern-africa-region

04.03

Emergency Fuel Surcharge - Trade Europe (inc. Greece, Türkiye, East Med/North Africa) to Southern Africa Region. The surcharge will be effective as from 16 March 2026 (VATOS):

Source: https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/customer-advisories/2026/march/efs-trade-europe-to-southern-africa-region?_gl=1*129l0u3*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTM1MTY1OTc5NS4xNzczMDY3MDQ1*_ga_9HMJRMP77C*

09.03

MSC offer solutions for inland cargoes to the Gulf

Key inland destinations in the Gulf include the cities of Damman, Riyadh, Jubail, Bahrain, Kuwait, Hamad, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi. The Dragon and Jade services offer competitive transit times connecting Asia.

Source: https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/news/2026/march/asia-to-red-sea-competitive-transit-times-to-the-gulf-via-king-abdullah-and-jeddah

09.03

Trucking links with the Saudi and Omani ports are now a critical alternative

DHL notes that extended multimodal routes connecting Egypt–Saudi Arabia–GCC countries are providing reliable alternatives for Europe and Asia cargo flows. The development of overland logistics routes across the region has become an important element of supply chain resilience amid disruptions affecting maritime shipping in the Red Sea.

Source: https://www.dhl.com/pl-en/home/global-forwarding/latest-news-and-webinars/middle-east-crisis-situation-updates.html#:~:text=1.,corridor%20continues%20to%20run%20reliably.

10.03

Some freight forwarders are recommending that shippers route via the Saudi Arabian ports of Jeddah, King Abdullah, and Yanbu

The Saudi Ports Authority, known as Mawani, recently announced the addition of two new maritime shipping services at Jeddah Islamic Port in partnership with shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

The new routes include Maersk’s AE19 service and Hapag-Lloyd’s SE4 service, each with a capacity of about 17,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs.

Through these routes, Jeddah Islamic Port will be connected to nine major regional and international ports, including Tianjin Xingang, Qingdao, Ningbo and Shanghai in China; Busan in South Korea; Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia; and Singapore.

Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2635890/amp