ports

Gulf ports choke as Hormuz closure forces cargo reroute

Container congestion at Saudi Red Sea ports is creating severe bottlenecks for Gulf-bound shipments as the Strait of Hormuz closure redirects traffic inland. Jeddah and King Abdullah ports are struggling with mounting container volumes. Carriers cannot secure adequate haulage capacity, and forwarders report six to eight week delays in container release and delivery to Gulf destinations. Both physical infrastructure constraints and administrative backlogs in customs clearance and cargo processing are causing congestion. Seasonal demand from the Hajj festival is compounding pressure. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, which operate the Asia-Mediterranean AE19 service, have suspended bookings to the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait via the Red Sea route. Industry sources indicate shippers may increasingly turn to overland routes and the TIR system as alternatives.