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27 March 2026 - 3 PM (CET)

Transport infrastructure across parts of the Middle East continues to face operational limitations, impacting global air, ocean and overland logistics.

Rhenus is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with carriers and partners to support service continuity wherever possible.

Current air freight update

Global air freight operations remain constrained due to ongoing airspace limitations and adjusted airport schedules.

• Middle Eastern Airlines & Air Hubs: Air freight capacity across the Middle East remains highly constrained despite the gradual return of freighter operations and partial recovery of regional hubs. While some flight services have been reinstated, the majority are fully booked or prioritized for essential cargo, while frequent cancellations continue to impact reliability.

• Constraint APAC-EU Lane and Alternative Hubs: Ongoing rerouting of cargo is shifting volumes to alternative hubs, increasing congestion globally. The Asia–Europe Lane remains the most capacity-constrained, and while some direct capacity has increased, it is insufficient to offset reduced Middle East hub operations. Longer routes also limit payload, further tightening effective capacity and sustaining a supply–demand imbalance.
• Surging Surcharges: Recent fluctuations in fuel supply and pricing are affecting the Brent Crude Index increasing costs for airlines, as well as road feeder service providers and ground handling partners, resulting in the introduction or increase of fuel-, war risk-, or contingency surcharges. Combined with limited capacity, this is leading to rising rates and continued volatility across multiple trade lanes.
• Fuel Supply Disruptions: The availability of jet fuel in certain regions, specifically Southeast Asia, is being monitored closely by airlines. Decisions on airline schedules due to the lack of jet fuel availability can cause a further reduction in available capacity and further upward pressure on rates in the future.

Current ocean freight update

Global ocean freight operations remain impacted by ongoing security concerns and operational constraints in the Middle East:

• Transit & Regional Access: Transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal remain subject to increased precautionary measures; vessel movements remain significantly reduced and carefully managed.
• Alternative routing & service adjustments: Following an initial phase where carriers suspended most calls to ports in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), services have gradually resumed on a limited basis to selected gateway ports, including Khor Fakkan Port (UAE), Jeddah Port (Saudi Arabia), and Sohar Port (Oman). Inland trucking is used for both pre- and oncarriage transportation.
• Operational impact: The rerouting of cargo is contributing to port congestion at alternative hub locations, causing delays. In addition, vessel schedule changes and broader network disruptions continue to impact transit times and reliability across adjacent trade lanes.
• Cost impact: Additional surcharges, including war risk and other security-related charges, have been implemented on affected trade lanes. Further, fuel prices have increased, impacting bunker adjustment factors (BAF) and contributing to higher overall transport costs.

Current overland transport update

European overland transport networks are also experiencing the effects of capacity constraints in air and ocean freight. Specifically:

• Higher demand for landbased alternatives is causing congestion on major European corridors.
• Additional documentation and procedural checks along selected Eastern European and Turkish routes may cause delays in border processing.
• Carriers continue to adjust their routes in response to capacity shifts and infrastructure bottlenecks.

General operational and infrastructure considerations

Across multiple locations, temporary restrictions and schedule changes at transport facilities are contributing to reduced or changed operating windows at airports and ports, slower processing times and delays in cargo handling as well as increased demand for inland logistics and warehousing capacities.

What we can do for our Customers

To support your supply chain during this period, Rhenus has reinforced several contingency solutions in the UAE:

• Expanded use of alternative multimodal routes, including sea-air combinations and landbridge services via neighboring markets, enabling routing flexibility to avoid areas with operational or security constraints. As part of this approach, we have developed the Rhenus Gulf Link Service to maintain reliable access to the region.
• Increased warehouse readiness and strategic stock placement for urgent cargo flows.
• Tailored planning of lastmile delivery across affected regions.

These measures are intended to minimize disruptions and maintain service continuity as far as possible.

To help manage potential delays, we recommend you to:

• Share shipment forecasts where possible to support capacity planning.
• Confirm bookings as early as possible to help secure available space.
• Evaluate alternative transport solutions, such as intermodal transport, dedicated full-truck loads and charter solutions.
• Remain flexible with delivery and pickup arrangements.
• Plan for extended lead times and potential rerouting, even if conditions appear stable locally.

As the situation remains dynamic, changes may occur at short notice. We will keep you informed of any developments relevant to your business.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Rhenus representative.