Shippers are shifting to road and road-air logistics as Middle East disruptions limit traditional transport routes, reports Metro Global from Singapore.
Shippers are increasingly turning to road and road-air logistics to maintain cargo flows as Middle East disruption continues to restrict traditional air and ocean routes, reports Singapore's Metro Global.
Vessel access to the Arabian Gulf has been severely curtailed, and air freight capacity has reduced, prompting significant volumes of cargo to be redirected onto land-based networks. Ports such as Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sohar, and Jeddah are acting as key gateways, with cargo trucked onward to markets in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
The shift is straining overland infrastructure, with trucking demand rising sharply and capacity shortages emerging across Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Congestion at contingency ports is extending dwell times, adding pressure on inland transport.
Road-air models are gaining traction as direct air freight remains limited and costly. Cargo is trucked to alternative airport gateways outside affected areas, reconnecting with more stable flight schedules. In some cases, cargo is moved across regions by road before linking with onward air services, reflecting a broader shift toward hybrid transport solutions.
While these approaches keep cargo moving, they add complexity through border crossings, customs, and security checks. Multimodal coordination is becoming critical, with businesses adopting flexible strategies that combine road, air, and ocean services to respond quickly to disruption.
Metro said it is actively supporting customers with road-air and direct road solutions, combining regional trucking, alternative gateways, and multimodal planning to maintain cargo flows in the constrained market.
