Shipping lines impose Gulf surcharges as Hormuz disruption enters fourth month

Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have announced major new emergency surcharges on Gulf-bound cargo, with fees reaching more than ten times the levels seen during the 2023 Red Sea crisis, as the Strait of Hormuz closure enters its fourth month. The new fees, published Friday 26 June, apply to existing bookings and shipments requiring alternative delivery arrangements. Affected regions include the UAE, Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Oman. These surcharges are part of an ongoing escalation in costs driven by the prolonged disruption of maritime trade routes through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, which has forced carriers to seek alternative, more expensive pathways for cargo.

Surcharges vary by routing and cargo type, with Maersk suspending new bookings to most Upper Gulf destinations entirely. The distinction between routing options is stark: customers utilizing Jeddah with onward trucking into the UAE face charges of $5,600 per 20-foot container, while those using Fujairah or Khor Fakkan as discharge points pay $2,200 per box. Refrigerated and dangerous goods incur higher rates, reflecting the additional logistical complexities and safety measures required for such cargo. These disparities in pricing show the varying degrees of difficulty and cost associated with rerouting cargo through different ports and modes of transport within the region.

The cumulative impact on shippers has been severe, with Shanghai-to-Jebel Ali spot rates quadrupling to over $8,000 per container since March. Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk published new emergency surcharge notices today, Friday 26 June, at levels which dwarf previous uses of the mechanism. This adds fresh costs to cargo bound for the Gulf as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz drags into its fourth month. Hapag-Lloyd said its Middle East Emergency Surcharge applies to existing bookings already in transit, cargo discharged at transhipment hubs such as India, Pakistan, Salalah in Oman, or Khor Al Fakkan in the UAE, and shipments already within the affected region requiring alternative delivery arrangements. Affected destinations include the UAE, Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Oman. Fees vary by routing: customers routed via Jeddah with onward trucking into the UAE face charges of $5,600 per 20-foot container, while those using Fujairah or Khor Al Fakkan as a discharge point pay $2,200 per box, with higher rates for refrigerated and dangerous goods. For its part, Maersk has suspended all new bookings to most Upper Gulf destinations entirely.