Conflict escalates, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd suspend major Middle East routes

Conflicts in the Middle East continue to escalate, and the world’s largest container shipping companies are pricing risk through concrete actions.

On Friday, according to The Wall Street Journal, Maersk (A.P. Moller-Maersk) and Hapag-Lloyd both announced the suspension of several key Middle East shipping services, affecting core trade routes such as Far East to Middle East, Middle East to Europe, and the Arabian Gulf. Both companies attributed this decision to the threat posed by escalating regional conflict to safe navigation.

The suspension covers a wide scope, directly impacting cargo flow between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Analysts cited in reports say the coordinated action of these two shipping giants means the interruption risk in Middle East trade routes is evolving from a short-term disruption to more persistent structural pressure.

Maersk Suspends Services on a Large Scale, Diverts Around the Cape of Good Hope

As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, global shipping giant Maersk is further tightening its business deployment in the region. The company announced the suspension of its FM1 service connecting the Far East to the Middle East, its ME11 service between the Middle East and Europe, and will cancel the ME1 service’s call at Jebel Ali Port in the UAE.

Previously, Maersk had already suspended all ship passages through the Strait of Hormuz and stopped accepting orders for refrigerated cargo and hazardous goods from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, with bookings for dry cargo in some countries also suspended.

After the US-Iran conflict erupted, Maersk immediately suspended all voyages via the Suez Canal and rerouted ships around the southern tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. This detour will significantly lengthen shipping time and push up operating costs, directly affecting supply chain timeliness and freight rates.

Hapag-Lloyd Follows Suit, Multiple Asia-Mediterranean Routes Affected

German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd also announced the suspension of several Middle East services, including the shuttle service in the Gulf of Oman, the Upper Gulf shuttle service, and multiple routes connecting Asia to the Arabian Gulf, India to the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. The company stated it will launch a new service to ensure continued reliability and operational stability but did not disclose specific details.

Following Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd’s simultaneous suspension signals that Middle East trade route interruptions have evolved from a single company’s risk avoidance measure to an industry-wide response. For shippers relying on Middle East routes, cargo delays, rising freight rates, and supply chain restructuring pressures will sharply manifest in the short term.

Conflict Continues to Spread, Shipping Industry Faces Longer-Term Uncertainty

This round of suspensions comes against the backdrop of expanding conflict in the Middle East. According to Wallstreetcn, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly slowed, with both oil tankers and container ships blocked. Meanwhile, Iran is expanding its attack range with low-cost drones, compensating for missile capability losses and further increasing the security risks of maritime corridors.

For investors, route suspensions by shipping giants not only directly impact the revenues of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, but also transmit pressures downstream to manufacturing and consumer goods sectors through higher freight rates and supply chain delays, intensifying inflation. The trajectory of the conflict remains highly uncertain and there is no clear timetable for shipping companies to resume normal services.

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