Operational update

Middle East

This page is updated as new information becomes available. The rolling update log at the bottom contains the most recent entries.

OVERVIEW

Following the military escalation between the US, Israel, and Iran on 28 February–1 March 2026, transport operations across the Middle East have been significantly disrupted. The situation remains dynamic. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

Your Forto contact will reach out directly if your specific shipment is affected.

For immediate queries, contact us here:
https://forto.com/en/contact-us

General Update – May 20th, 2026

The Hormuz Crisis is now in its 81st day. The ceasefire agreed on 8 April remains technically in place but is under severe strain. Peace talks mediated by Pakistan — focused on a 14-point memorandum of understanding covering Hormuz reopening, Iran’s nuclear programme, and US sanctions — have stalled, with both sides publicly rejecting each other’s proposals. For the second consecutive day on 19 May, zero vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz — a new low point. Traffic through the strait ran at approximately 5% of pre-conflict levels across April; over 1,550 commercial vessels remain stranded with 22,500 mariners trapped on board.

The most significant development of the past two weeks was the launch and rapid suspension of Operation Project Freedom. On 4 May, US Navy vessels began escorting commercial ships through the strait. By 5 May the operation was paused, with Trump citing “great progress” in peace talks and the request of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies. On the same day, CMA CGM confirmed its container vessel San Antonio was struck by missiles while transiting the strait, with crew members injured and evacuated. It was the second CMA CGM container ship attacked in the strait since the war began.

Neither side has removed its blockade. The US naval blockade of Iranian ports, active since 13 April, remains in place. Iran continues to restrict strait access and has introduced new procedures requiring vessels to receive prior authorisation from Iranian maritime authorities before transiting. Cape of Good Hope routing remains the operational baseline for all Asia–Europe container services. No major carrier has announced a return to Gulf operations.

Brent crude averaged $117 per barrel in April — its highest since June 2022, peaking at $138 per barrel on 7 April — and currently stands at approximately $111 per barrel, around 70% above year-ago levels. Marine bunker costs have outpaced crude: VLSFO in Singapore rose 113% in five weeks to $1,034 per tonne, with Fujairah up 162% to $1,248 per tonne. Rotterdam VLSFO stood at $816 per tonne as of 13 May — up approximately 57% from pre-war levels — with further upward pressure as Gulf refinery imports were severed entirely by the dual blockade. These costs are feeding directly into freight surcharges across all modes — major carriers are applying War Risk Surcharges of up to $1,500 per TEU alongside Emergency Bunker and Transit Disruption Surcharges reviewed weekly; Hapag-Lloyd alone estimates the crisis is costing it $60 million per week.

SEA
LOGISTICS

Last updated: 20 May 2026, 17:00

Following the military escalation between the US, Israel, and Iran on 28 February–1 March 2026, sea operations across the Middle East have been significantly disrupted. The situation remains fluid. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

For the majority of Asia-Europe container shipments, the operational picture has not materially changed: Cape of Good Hope routing has been the standard since January 2024, and transit times on those lanes remain as they have been. What has changed is that Gulf-origin and Gulf-destination cargo is now directly affected by the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Country Status – Sea Operations

Country	Seaports	Overall
UAE	Jebel Ali, Hamriyah, Sharjah, Khor Fakkan: all fully operational at ISPS Level 1. Fujairah: cargo operations have normalised following the 4 May drone-triggered fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone — fire fully contained, port access open, bunkering and anchorage services normal. Fujairah Oil Tanker Terminal mostly operational; Berth 6 remains offline for maintenance. GPS spoofing and jamming advisory offshore remains in effect — area classified high risk for navigation. Ruwais: ISPS Level 2; Abu Dhabi Ports: ISPS Level 1. Ras Al Khaimah ports open and operating normally; Marine Risk Surcharge applicable to all vessels calling at RAK ports. STS operations continuing in Dubai anchorage waters with tug assistance; no underway STS permitted until further notice. Temporary customs facilitation remains in place — containers arriving at Fujairah or Khor Fakkan for Jebel Ali or Abu Dhabi may be transported by road without standard customs clearance procedures.	✓ Operational
Saudi Arabia	Red Sea ports (Jeddah, King Abdullah): operating normally (ISPS Level 1). Jeddah increasingly used as a Sea/Air alternative gateway for Gulf-bound cargo. Eastern Province (Dammam/Jubail): domestic calls only.	⚠ Partial
Qatar	Full maritime navigation restored for all vessel types, all hours. Hamad Port, Doha Port and Al Ruwais: operational. Mesaieed and Ras Laffan: operational; GPS degradation advisory remains in effect. Al Shaheen Terminal and Halul Island Terminal: suspended until further notice.	✓ Operational
Kuwait	Shuwaikh: fully operational. Shuaiba: operational. Both ports under ISPS Level 2. Container vessels bound for Shuaiba redirected to Shuwaikh (max draft 9.6m).	✓ Operational
Bahrain	Khalifa Bin Salman Port (APM Terminal): operations resumed; vessel movements limited due to restricted pilot availability. BAPCO operations suspended. ISPS Level 1.	⚠ Partial
Iraq	Umm Qasr and Khor Al Zubair: fully operational, all container berths functioning normally.	✓ Operational
Oman	All ports fully operational. Vessels must submit an official letter prior to entry confirming no dangerous goods on board; if DG cargo is present, full specification required and Ministry approval needed before entering Omani territorial waters. Mina Al Fahal and Qalhat LNG terminal (Sur): ISPS Level 2; all other ports: ISPS Level 1. GPS interference advisory remains in effect at Mina Al Fahal — Doppler log required for berthing.	✓ Operational
Jordan	Aqaba Port: operating normally.	✓ Operational
Iran	Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. Zero vessels transited on 18 and 19 May — the lowest point since the conflict began. Operation Project Freedom, the US-led escort corridor, was launched on 4 May and suspended within 48 hours after Iran attacked escorted vessels. Iranian authorities have introduced mandatory pre-authorisation procedures requiring vessels to obtain written clearance from Iranian maritime authorities before transiting. Sea mines remain uncleared; war risk insurance unavailable for mainstream operators.	🔴 Disrupted
Egypt	All ports and Suez Canal operating without disruption. Cape of Good Hope routing remains the operational baseline for Asia–Europe services — Suez Canal not in active use for container mainline calls.	✓ Operational

Red Sea and Suez Canal
Cape of Good Hope routing continues as the operational baseline for all Asia-Europe services. For customers on these lanes: no change to current transit times.

Strait of Hormuz
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply since 1 March 2026. While no formal legal closure has been declared, IRGC radio warnings confirmed by UKMTO and EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, active kinetic incidents, and individual carrier decisions have led most vessels to avoid transit.

This primarily affects cargo originating from or destined for Gulf countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia (Eastern Province), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Oman. For the majority of container shipments on Asia-Europe lanes that do not touch Gulf ports, the Hormuz situation does not affect routing.

AIR
LOGISTICS

Last updated: 15 May 2026, 16:30

Following the military escalation between the US, Israel, and Iran from 28th February 2026, Air Freight operations across the Middle East have been significantly disrupted. Several countries in the region have implemented temporary airspace closures or restrictions, leading to widespread flight cancellations and operational adjustments by airlines.

The largest impact is the reduced availability of cargo capacity via key Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai (DXB/DWC), Doha (DOH), and Abu Dhabi (AUH). These hubs normally serve as major transit points for Air Freight moving between Asia, Europe, and Africa. While some airports and airlines continue operating with adjusted routings, many carriers have suspended or reduced services to the region, resulting in limited uplift capacity and longer transit times.

Air Freight flows between Asia and Europe remain operational, with airlines increasingly relying on direct long-haul flights or alternative hubs such as Istanbul. However, customers may experience temporary capacity constraints, schedule changes, and rate volatility while the situation evolves.

Your Forto contact will reach out directly if your specific shipment is affected. For immediate queries, contact us here: [email protected]
Key changes since the last update:

No structural reopening or improvement in airspace access to be reported since the last update. Fuel constraints remain fully embedded, but operational handling has stabilized. Airlines continue to tanker fuel, optimize rotations and adjust marginal frequencies.

Congestion at JED airport is stable, delays predictable and planned. MCT and IST remain at structural limits without additional buffer. Taiwan demand remains elevated, but no further spike.

Operational stability

Operations are now stable and predictable within the current framework. Routing patterns are fully standardized, leading to fewer irregularities compared to earlier phases.

Country Status – Air Operations

Country	Airports	Overall
Azerbaijan	Baku (GYD): cargo flights operating with rerouting via Caucasus corridor	✓ Operational
Bahrain	Bahrain International Airport (BAH): cargo operations partially suspended	⚠ Partial
Egypt	Cairo International Airport (CAI): operating normally and increasingly used as an alternative cargo gateway.	✓ Operational
Iraq	Baghdad (BGW) and Erbil (EBL): partially open again	⚠ Partial
Israel	Ben Gurion Airport (TLV): heavily restricted operations for military airplanes only	🔴 Disrupted
Jordan	Queen Alia International Airport (AMM): reduced flight activity	⚠ Partial
Kuwait	Kuwait International Airport (KWI): airport closed following security incident; operations suspended	🔴 Disrupted
Lebanon	Beirut (BEY): airspace closed	🔴 Disrupted
Oman	Muscat (MCT): operational and used for rerouted cargo	✓ Operational
Qatar	Hamad International Airport (DOH): Partially reopened for limited/repatriation flights only	⚠ Partial
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh (RUH) and Jeddah (JED): operating with adjusted routings JED becoming the new Sea/Air solution Operational with rerouting; congestion building; key transit alternative	⚠ Partial
Syria	Damascus (DAM) and Aleppo (ALP): largely suspended No commercial cargo operations; airspace high risk	🔴 Disrupted
Turkey	Istanbul Airport (IST): fully functional; major rerouting hub; high capacity utilization	✓ Operational
UAE	Dubai (DXB/DWC) and Abu Dhabi (AUH): Partially open; intermittent disruptions, improved vs weekend	⚠ Partial

Airline Status

Airline	Operations	Overall
Cargolux	Middle East bookings remain limited, with selective flows and rerouting via alternative corridors	⚠ Partial
Cargo Airlines (CAL – 5C / X7)	Selective cargo operations & acceptance; avoiding Gulf airspace; ad-hoc charter flexibility	⚠ Partial
DHL Aviation	Network stable but extended routings via Saudi/Oman; delays on ME-bound cargo	⚠ Partial
EL AL Cargo	Operations suspended	🔴 Disrupted
Emirates SkyCargo	Frequent diversions/turnbacks; partial ops resumed but unstable	⚠ Partial
Etihad Cargo	Limited schedule; ongoing disruptions and rerouting	⚠ Partial
flydubai Cargo	Limited narrowbody capacity; reduced regional frequencies; prioritizing essential cargo	⚠ Partial
Gulf Air Cargo	BAH operating with restrictions; reliance on Saudi overflight; limited network reach	⚠ Partial
Kuwait Airways Cargo	Suspended due to airspace closure	🔴 Disrupted
Lufthansa Cargo	Middle East services reduced and rerouted, Multiple Middle East cargo stations remain suspended or embargoed Avoiding region; rerouting long-haul flows	⚠ Partial
Oman Air Cargo	Operating; benefiting from rerouting flows	✓ Operational
Qatar Airways Cargo	Limited operations; hub access restricted to special/approved flights	🔴 Disrupted
Saudia Cargo	Operating with rerouting via safe corridors; delays and congestion at RUH/JED	⚠ Partial
Silk Way West Airlines	Freighter operations via Caucasus corridor, selective regional operations	⚠ Partial
Turkish Airlines Cargo	Fully operational; major bypass hub	✓ Operational

Corridor Capacity vs Normal

Asia → Europe ~60-65%

Europe → Asia ~65-70%

Middle East Transit Capacity ~40-45%

Drivers:
- Fuel tankering reducing payload
- Longer routings increasing aircraft utilization
- Continued congestion at key hubs
Gulf–Europe belly capacity recovery

Date Capacity vs Normal

28 Feb 100% baseline

03 Mar ~55%

05 Mar ~62%

07 Mar ~70%

09 Mar ~76%

11 Mar ~55%

13 Mar ~45%

18 Mar ~50-55%

Latest ~45%

No meaningful recovery.

Still structurally limited due to:
- Airline avoidance
- Security concerns
- Reduced passenger operations
Load factor development

China → Europe: ~90–95% (peak conditions)

Taiwan → Europe: ~95%+ (critical / demand-driven)

Asia → Europe overall: ~90–95%

Europe → Asia: ~75–85%

Market remains at maximum utilization.
Fuel costs remain at an elevated level following the recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East. While oil prices have eased slightly from the peak levels seen at the end of March, there has been no meaningful or sustained decline that would indicate a normalization of fuel costs.

The current situation continues to be driven by a fragile ceasefire environment, where underlying tensions remain unresolved. As a result, the market is still pricing in potential supply disruptions, particularly linked to key transit routes and production stability in the region. Importantly, supply chains have not been fully restored to pre-crisis conditions, and operational risks remain present.

From an aviation perspective, this means that kerosene costs continue to act as a structural cost driver, rather than a temporary volatility factor. Airlines are therefore maintaining a cautious pricing approach, as the risk of renewed escalation or supply constraints remains high.

In summary, despite some short-term easing, the overall fuel environment has not materially improved. Prices remain elevated, supply conditions are not fully normalized, and the outlook continues to be uncertain and highly dependent on geopolitical developments.

ROLLING UPDATE LOG

Hormuz: zero transits for consecutive days. No vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on 18 or 19 May — the lowest recorded since the conflict began on 28 February. Peace talks remain deadlocked; Operation Project Freedom suspended. Cape of Good Hope routing remains the only viable option for Asia–Europe container services
Forto is updating its booking policy for the Middle East region, effective 20 March 2026.

Arabian Gulf: Sea freight bookings remain suspended. Major shipping lines continue to hold bookings to the Arabian Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz remains de facto closed to commercial container traffic. We are unable to accept new sea freight shipments to this area until carrier services resume and will communicate proactively when this changes. Air freight to select destinations may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Other Middle East destinations: Forto is now reviewing booking requests on a case-by-case basis, subject to carrier acceptance for the specific route. The situation remains dynamic and each request will be individually assessed by our operations team, taking into account the latest security and operational conditions for the specific origin, destination, and transport mode.

To discuss a shipment to the Middle East, please contact your Forto representative or reach us at forto.com/en/contact-us
Bahrain — APM Terminals has resumed operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port; vessel movements ongoing but limited due to restricted pilot availability. ISPS Level 1. Qatar — Hamad Port, Doha Port, Al Ruwais Port operational but activity levels lower than pre-conflict; Al Ruwais restricted to small craft only; Mesaieed and Ras Laffan ongoing; Al Shaheen Terminal and Halul Island Terminal suspended until further notice. Jordan — all operations normal at Aqaba Port. Egypt — all ports and Suez Canal operating without disruption.
Confirmation of Port of Salalah CT and GCT resuming operations as of 16 March — liquid cargo operations still suspended. Duqm operational with DG restrictions in place for all calling vessels. Salalah resumption is significant — the port had been suspended since drone strikes on 11 March. As the only major transshipment hub in the western Indian Ocean outside both chokepoint risk zones, Salalah resuming container operations is a material development for shippers with Gulf-bound cargo.
Strait of Hormuz commercial container traffic remains at a standstill — 16 days since de facto closure. Salalah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, and Jeddah confirmed as the four primary alternative gateway ports for Gulf-bound cargo.

Qatar’s Ministry of Transport advises that shipping lines may route raw materials and consumer goods destined for Hamad Port via designated alternative ports: first alternative — Sohar and Duqm; second alternative — Fujairah and Khor Fakkan. This is the first official alternative routing guidance issued by a Gulf government authority — material for shippers with Qatar-bound cargo.

Salalah remains suspended following drone strikes earlier in the week — only bunkering operations at anchorage have resumed.

Suez Canal and all Egyptian ports remain fully operational at ISPS Level 1.
Inchcape port advisory (16:30 UAE): Fujairah fire incidents at adjacent oil zone confirmed contained; port operating normally. GPS jamming and signal spoofing reported offshore Fujairah. Port of Mesaieed (Qatar): mandatory night pilotage in effect due to GPS signal degradation. Kuwait — all ports suspended; vessels evacuating to anchorage. Bahrain Khalifa Bin Salman Port: suspended.
US-Israel strikes on Iran confirmed 28 February–1 March. IRGC broadcasts Hormuz closure warnings via VHF; confirmed by UKMTO and EUNAVFOR ASPIDES. Brent crude +8.8% to $79.30/bbl. DP World implements precautionary suspension at Jebel Ali — subsequently reopened same day. Linerlytica co-founder Hua Joo Tan (Lloyd’s List Intelligence): approximately 170 containerships / 450,000 TEU inside the Gulf facing movement restrictions.

Corridor	Capacity vs Normal
Asia → Europe	~60-65%
Europe → Asia	~65-70%
Middle East Transit Capacity	~40-45%

Date	Capacity vs Normal
28 Feb	100% baseline
03 Mar	~55%
05 Mar	~62%
07 Mar	~70%
09 Mar	~76%
11 Mar	~55%
13 Mar	~45%
18 Mar	~50-55%
Latest	~45%