March 12th, 2026 – Congestion is mounting at container ports surrounding the Persian Gulf as ships divert from the conflict zone and unload cargo earlier than planned. The disruption follows rising geopolitical tensions in the region, which have affected vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz and prompted carriers to reroute shipments across the region.
Several key ports in the Persian Gulf — including Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait — halted operations due to regional security concerns. Some facilities have since resumed activity, but vessel arrivals remain restricted as shipping lines continue to assess security risks and war-risk insurance costs tied to entering the Gulf.
As a result, nearby ports are experiencing a surge in diverted cargo. Facilities closest to the region — including Khor Fakkan in the UAE, Sohar in Oman, Karachi in Pakistan and India’s Mundra and Nhava Sheva — are seeing rising congestion as ships attempt to discharge containers at the nearest viable alternatives to their original destinations.
Carriers are balancing how close vessels can safely approach intended ports while remaining within insurance limits and avoiding unnecessary risk to crews. Meanwhile, another wave of cargo is heading toward alternative ports after booking suspensions were issued for destinations across the Middle East, including the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Containers that had already departed Asia before the suspensions are now being redirected. Some shipments are being discharged at major transshipment hubs such as Singapore, Colombo and Tanjung Pelepas, while others are moving toward Indian ports or the eastern coast of the UAE. However, the closer vessels attempt to get to the conflict zone, the greater the delays they are encountering.
Congestion data highlights the strain. Karachi is operating at roughly 80% congestion, with ships waiting an average of 2.5 days. Sohar and Khor Fakkan have reached full congestion levels, with Sohar experiencing average waits of nearly six days. In India, Nhava Sheva is about 57% congested with vessels waiting around 2.8 days, while Mundra is roughly 55% congested with two-day waits. Aden has also seen delays surge, reaching about 88% congestion and average waiting times of nine days.
Inside the Persian Gulf, a significant amount of container capacity is effectively trapped. The rapid escalation of the conflict quickly turned the region into a high-risk zone for both air and maritime transport, leading to widespread shutdowns at container terminals and airports across the Gulf.
Although Jebel Ali has resumed operations, vessel traffic remains limited due to disrupted shipping networks and elevated war-risk insurance costs for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts estimate that more than 200,000 TEUs of container capacity are currently stranded in the region.
Because the Persian Gulf typically imports more containerized cargo than it exports, vessels usually unload full containers and reload empty boxes to reposition back to Asian manufacturing hubs. Trapping those vessels and containers in Gulf ports risks creating equipment shortages across Asia.
The disruption is already affecting freight markets. Rates from Asia to India have risen nearly 30% since the start of the conflict, while rates to East Mediterranean ports have climbed about 11%. Carriers have also introduced surcharges ranging from $2,500 to $3,500 per TEU as they adjust to the rapidly changing operating environment.
With the Strait of Hormuz serving as a critical chokepoint for global energy and trade flows, prolonged disruption is expected to create wider ripple effects across shipping networks, manufacturing supply chains and the overall cost of moving goods worldwide.
