A.P. Moller–Maersk has warned that the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is set to prolong disruption across global shipping networks, as security risks and operational constraints continue to escalate.
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In a customer advisory issued March 24, the carrier described the situation as highly volatile, noting that while regional ports remain technically open, persistent strikes and infrastructure risks have severely limited normal operations. The company emphasized that the evolving security environment is restricting vessel movements and complicating logistics planning across the Middle East.
The impact is now extending well beyond the region. Maersk said ongoing rerouting and network adjustments are creating ripple effects across global trade lanes, placing sustained pressure on schedule reliability. The carrier expects these disruptions to persist into the second quarter as supply chains adapt to altered routing patterns.
A key pressure point is fuel supply. Refinery outages and export limitations linked to the Hormuz shutdown have tightened global bunker availability, forcing vessels to refuel at alternative ports—often at significantly higher, risk-adjusted prices. In response, Maersk has introduced a global Emergency Bunker Surcharge effective March 25, highlighting the growing cost burden on shipping operations worldwide.
The company is also implementing a Strait of Hormuz Emergency Freight surcharge for cargo tied to Gulf destinations, reflecting the additional expenses associated with rerouting, temporary storage, and capacity reallocation. Shipments already in transit are being redirected through a range of contingency options, with customers choosing between diversion, storage at intermediate hubs, or return to origin.
Operationally, Maersk has scaled back its presence in the Upper Gulf, suspending bookings across key markets including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and eastern Saudi Arabia. Limited exceptions remain in place for essential goods such as food and medical supplies, as well as select alternative gateways like Jeddah, Salalah, and Aqaba.
To maintain cargo flow, the carrier is expanding landbridge solutions across the region while increasing reliance on air freight, despite rising aviation fuel costs. These measures are aimed at mitigating the impact of maritime bottlenecks caused by the effective closure of Hormuz routes.
Looking ahead, Maersk expects continued volatility, with the strait likely to remain closed to commercial traffic and regional airspace disruptions further complicating logistics operations. For now, one of the world’s largest shipping networks is operating in contingency mode—reshaping routes, managing fuel constraints, and absorbing rising costs—as the industry adjusts to a prolonged disruption at a critical global trade artery.
