Reefer shippers face delays as Gulf conflict halts cargo flows, impacting food supplies and logistics across the region.
Cold chain shippers with containers bound for the Middle East face mounting delays as reefer boxes have been offloaded at ports outside the Persian Gulf, with no timeline for the resumption of voyages through the war zone, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
Ocean carriers have suspended the acceptance of reefer, dangerous goods, and special cargo in and out of the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia until further notice. Containers that were already en route when fighting began on February 28 were dropped at ports in India, Singapore, and elsewhere, incurring storage charges.
Tyson Foods is among those affected, with halal chicken shipments from Brazil offloaded before reaching Gulf markets. Juliana Violato, Tyson's senior procurement manager in Europe, stated that production in Brazil has slowed as containers remain stranded, with possible rerouting through Oman or Saudi Arabia still uncertain.
Industry consultant Thomas Eskesen noted that frozen food and perishables are the top concern, with diversions via Jeddah offering limited relief. Land-based options through UAE and Oman ports are under strain, with trucking bottlenecks including a reported 20-mile queue at Dubai's Jebel Ali.
Ms. Violato warned that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, shippers may need to redirect cargo to Europe or Africa. Kevin Marchetti of Lineage Logistics mentioned that solutions will vary by product and market, while Americold's Andrew Mates noted that the UAE government is actively redirecting cargo via land routes.
Maersk CCO Karsten Kildahl stated that all cargo risks becoming urgent, from foodstuffs to petrochemicals. Persian Gulf states import more than 90 percent of goods, and an extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz could impact store shelves. Outbound cargo such as fertilizer, which accounts for about 30 percent of global supply, is also at risk, raising fears of food inflation if the conflict drags on.
