- 93 views
State of Logistics in the Middle East: Import Report
The situation in the main transportation nodes of the Middle East presents critical disruptions affecting the global flow of goods. Below is the technical detail of the current operations:
Air Transport Situation (Qatar and Region)
- Qatar Airspace: Following the total closure in early March, the Civil Aviation Authority has authorized only limited operational corridors.
- Operations: Qatar Airways and other regional operators maintain a restricted schedule. Regular programming of commercial and cargo (freighter) flights from the Doha hub has not been restored.
- Routes: Active flights are operating under significant detours through Central Asia, generating an increase in flight times and a reduction in available cargo capacity per trip.
Maritime Transport Situation (Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea)
- Escalation in Hormuz: As of today, March 11, projectile attacks have been reported against three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, raising the risk level to "critical".
- Massive Detours: Major shipping lines (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM) have consolidated the detour of their fleets via the Cape of Good Hope. This adds between 10 and 14 additional transit days for routes connecting Asia/Middle East with Europe and America.
- Port Congestion: The ports of Jebel Ali and Salalah are experiencing operational delays due to the accumulation of containers waiting for safe routes.
Commercial and Tariff Impact
- Energy Costs: The price of a barrel of oil is above $107 USD, which translates into immediate adjustments to bunker adjustment factors (BAF) in freight contracts.
- Insurance: War risk premiums for transit through the Persian Gulf have increased in value, raising the final cost of imports that choose to maintain the original route.
- Equipment Availability: A shortage of empty containers is expected in the coming weeks due to the slower rotation of vessels along the extended routes.
