Major Container Carriers Suspend Persian Gulf Operations, Reroute Services Around Africa
Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM suspend all Gulf services, rerouting around Cape of Good Hope adds 10-14 days to transit times.
Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM Halt All Gulf Transit
The three largest container shipping lines globally announced on March 2, 2026, that they are immediately suspending all maritime transits through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. Maersk Line, commanding a fleet exceeding 700,000 TEU of capacity, issued a formal advisory that no new bookings would be accepted for any Gulf-bound container services. Hapag-Lloyd of Germany and CMA CGM of France released parallel statements within hours, indicating complete operational suspension of scheduled services to ports in the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
Maersk's directive extends beyond standard container services to include suspension of refrigerated cargo and dangerous goods shipments to all Gulf destinations. This withdrawal affects petroleum-related containers, specialized reefer containers for food products, hazardous chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty cargoes that Gulf nations depend upon for food security and medical supply chains. The suspension is open-ended with no specified restart date, leaving thousands of shippers scrambling for alternatives.
Cape of Good Hope Rerouting Adds 10-14 Days
Both Maersk and CMA CGM confirmed that all services previously routed through the Hormuz passage are being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa's southern tip, adding approximately 4,000 nautical miles to individual voyages. This rerouting extends transit times by 10 to 14 calendar days, disrupting just-in-time inventory models. The extra distance requires additional fuel consumption, extended crew employment, and port facility fees, substantially increasing per-container costs.
CMA CGM confirmed that their Middle East Express 11 and Middle East Consortium Lines services are being immediately rerouted around Africa. Hapag-Lloyd indicated similar comprehensive rerouting strategies across their entire Gulf service portfolio. No compensation or rate adjustments have been offered for delays and fuel surcharge costs that shippers must absorb.
Supply Chain Chaos and Uncertain Timeline
Containerized cargo destined for Gulf ports faces extended transit times, higher costs, and complete operational uncertainty. Many businesses dependent on just-in-time inventory report that the additional 10-14 day delays combined with elevated freight rates may render their supply chains fundamentally uneconomical.
Customers are reportedly requesting blanket suspensions of future bookings rather than commit to uncertain timelines, further reducing container volumes and revenue for the already-strained global container shipping industry. The extraordinary unpredictability of the crisis makes providing accurate delivery estimates impossible.
Hapag-Lloyd announced a war risk surcharge of $1,500 per TEU effective March 2, while CMA CGM imposed an Emergency Conflict Surcharge of $2,000 per 20-foot dry container and $3,000 per 40-foot container. These surcharges compound the already elevated freight rates, creating a cost environment that threatens to destabilize trade patterns across the entire Middle Eastern commercial corridor.