Heightened Uncertainty in the Middle East: ESC Recommendations for Shippers

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11.03.2026. Update on recommendation for shippers. Sea Freight:

  • Consider shipping by sea to ports in Oman or along the Red Sea, followed by onward transport by rail or truck to destinations in the region. Examples include the ports of Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah in Oman, which offer connections to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and other countries.
  • The port of Aqaba in Jordan can also serve as an alternative access point for transport to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or Israel.
  • A multiport strategy can help maintain flexibility. Cargo can be unloaded at various ports around Oman or the Red Sea, temporarily stored in terminals, and then transferred to smaller vessels. This approach can help reduce congestion at busy ports.

09.03.2026

Rising hostilities involving Iran and their spillover into neighbouring countries and areas hosting European military bases are having a serious impact on international transport flows.

Recent events have moved beyond warnings and constrained transit — to near total operational paralysis and systemic disruption across shipping, logistics, energy markets, and global supply chains.

In light of these developments, the European Shippers’ Council  organised a webinar “Consequences for Logistics and Shippers after the Effective Closure of the Strait of Hormuz” on the 13th of March.

ESC also recommends that shippers take the following operational actions:

Recommendations for Shippers

1.Map and Locate cargo and equipment

  • Perform a real‑time audit of shipments in transit, particularly those linked to Middle‑East gateways or reliant on Hormuz‑linked corridors.

2.Activate Dynamic Visibility and Scenario Planning

  • Adopt enhanced tracking tools with war‑risk and geopolitical scenario modules.
  • Reassess routing and modal shift options daily as conditions evolve.

3.Rebalance Inventory and Warehousing

  • Build buffer stocks in strategic hubs (e.g., Europe, Southeast Asia) where demand exposure is highest.
  • Evaluate vendor‑managed inventory (VMI) and near‑shoring alternatives where feasible.

4.Re‑evaluate Insurance and Contractual Risk

  • Engage insurers to revise war‑risk and delayed‑shipment coverage, including specific clauses for prolonged chokepoint disruptions.
  • Consider financial hedging against energy, freight and currency volatility linked to the conflict.

5.Model Systemic Impact

  • Treat this not as a regional disturbance but as a global systemic shock with implications across energy, manufacturing, and goods industries.

 

Topics: Conflicts, Security, Trade