container ships

Ocean rates move unevenly as conflict, congestion and pricing strategies reshape the market

Mar 18, 2026 | , ,

Ocean freight spot rates are entering a more volatile phase, as Middle East disruption, port congestion and carrier pricing strategies combine to reshape conditions across the main east–west trade lanes.

Recent market data shows a widening gap between how different trades are performing. 

On Asia–Europe routes, spot rates have risen sharply in some cases, with week-on-week increases approaching 20%, while other indices suggest more modest movements of only a few percentage points.

This disparity reflects a market where pricing is no longer moving in a single direction. Instead, shippers are seeing a broad range of rates depending on timing, routing and carrier strategy, with some short-term quotes significantly above prevailing averages.

On the transpacific, the picture remains more subdued. While some indices show modest increases of around 3–5%, underlying demand remains relatively soft, which is limiting upward pressure and keeping overall rate levels more stable.

Although the main east–west trades do not directly transit the Middle East Gulf, the impact of the conflict is feeding into global ocean networks.

The continued disruption to Red Sea and Gulf routing is extending voyage distances and increasing vessel utilisation. This reduces effective capacity across the global fleet, helping to support rates despite relatively cautious demand.

Congestion builds across alternative hubs

As vessels divert away from affected areas, pressure is building at alternative ports across Asia and the wider region.

Transhipment hubs are absorbing higher-than-normal volumes, often arriving on disrupted schedules. This is leading to congestion, longer waiting times and reduced operational efficiency.

The knock-on effect is being felt across supply chains, with delays extending beyond the immediate region and into connecting services on Asia–Europe and intra-Asia routes.

This congestion is also contributing to rate increases, particularly on trades closest to the disruption, where spot pricing has risen by double-digit percentages since the situation escalated.

Carriers adopt firmer pricing strategies

Alongside operational disruption, carrier behaviour is playing a growing role in shaping the market.

Pricing strategies have become more assertive, with carriers introducing higher FAK levels, applying emergency surcharges and taking a firmer approach to contract negotiations. In some cases, new rate levels have been set significantly above recent spot benchmarks, even as softening continues to appear in parts of the market.

Fuel-related and war risk surcharges are also being layered onto base rates, reflecting higher operating costs and increased insurance premiums. This is creating a more complex pricing structure, where total landed costs are less predictable and subject to change at short notice.

Regulatory attention is also increasing, with the FMC in the United States and authorities in China and India signalling the need for greater transparency around pricing and surcharge application.

Short-term support, longer-term uncertainty

In the near term, these combined factors are helping to support ocean freight rates and prevent the sharp declines that might otherwise follow the post-Chinese New Year period.

However, the outlook remains uncertain. Much will depend on how demand develops in the coming weeks and how carriers manage capacity through blank sailings and network adjustments.

If disruption persists, longer sailing distances and ongoing congestion are likely to continue absorbing capacity. At the same time, any sustained weakness in demand could limit how far rates can rise.

For shippers, this creates a market that is not only volatile, but also increasingly difficult to interpret without close visibility of both operational conditions and carrier behaviour.

With rates moving in different directions and pricing structures becoming more complex, clarity is becoming just as important as cost.

Metro works closely with customers to break down market movements, challenge assumptions and identify the most effective routing and pricing strategies across global ocean networks.

If you would like a clearer view of where rates are heading and how to position your supply chain - EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director at Metro, for a detailed, shipment-specific discussion.

Truck Middle East

Road and road–air solutions gain traction in Middle East disruption

Mar 18, 2026 | , , , , ,

As disruption across the Middle East continues to restrict traditional air and ocean routes, shippers are increasingly turning to road and road–air solutions to maintain cargo flow. 

What began as a contingency response is now becoming a core part of how supply chains are adapting to a more constrained and fragmented logistics environment.

With vessel access to the Arabian Gulf severely restricted and air capacity reduced, significant volumes of cargo are being redirected onto land-based networks.

Ports such as Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sohar and Jeddah are now acting as key entry points, with cargo transferred onto trucks for onward delivery across the Gulf. These corridors are supporting flows into major markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

However, this shift is placing pressure on overland infrastructure that was not designed to handle such volumes. Trucking demand has risen sharply, leading to capacity shortages on key corridors across Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As a result, transit times are becoming less predictable and costs are rising in response to increased demand.

At the same time, congestion at contingency ports is extending dwell times, further increasing reliance on inland transport to maintain movement.

Road–air models offer a practical alternative to constrained air freight

As direct air freight capacity remains limited and increasingly expensive, road–air solutions are becoming more widely used.

Cargo is being moved by road to alternative airport gateways outside the most affected areas, where it can reconnect with more stable flight schedules. This approach helps bypass disrupted hubs while maintaining faster transit times than traditional ocean freight.

The model is also being applied on longer-distance routes. In some cases, cargo is being trucked across regions before connecting with onward air services, reflecting a broader shift towards more flexible, hybrid transport solutions.

Demand for these services is increasing as shippers look to balance speed, cost and reliability in a market where traditional options are under pressure.

Operational complexity increases as networks evolve

While these solutions are keeping cargo moving, they also introduce new layers of complexity.

Border crossings, customs processes and security checks are becoming more critical to overall transit time performance. In addition, the rapid scaling of road-based solutions is creating pressure on available capacity, particularly on heavily used corridors.

At the same time, multimodal coordination is becoming more important. Successfully combining road, air and ocean services requires close planning, real-time visibility and the ability to adapt quickly as conditions change.

This is driving greater demand for integrated logistics approaches that can manage multiple transport modes within a single, coordinated solution.

Rather than relying on fixed routes or single modes, businesses are adopting more flexible strategies that allow them to respond to disruption as it develops. This includes using alternative gateways, combining transport modes and building contingency options into their planning.

When traditional routes are under pressure, the ability to switch quickly to practical alternatives becomes critical.

Metro is actively supporting customers with road–air and direct road solutions, combining regional trucking, alternative airport gateways and multimodal coordination to keep cargo moving.

If you are facing delays, capacity constraints or rising air freight costs, EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director at Metro, to discuss how road–air or direct road options could support your shipments in the current market.

Salalah

Drones strike Gulf hubs as air and sea freight networks tighten

Mar 12, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Security incidents on 11 March have added further pressure to global freight networks already affected by disruption across the Middle East.

A drone strike at the Port of Salalah in Oman hit fuel storage tanks, forcing the suspension of port operations and bunkering activity at one of the region’s key container transhipment and fuel supply hubs. Salalah is a critical location for vessel refuelling and cargo transfers in the Arabian Sea, and any interruption to bunkering services can affect shipping schedules and vessel routing across multiple trade lanes.

Initial assessments indicate both port operations and bunker supply remain suspended while the extent of the damage is evaluated. The incident follows earlier security events near the port and additional reported attacks affecting nearby Duqm, increasing concern over the resilience of key logistics infrastructure in the region.

At the same time, Dubai International Airport temporarily halted operations after a drone strike nearby wounded four people on the morning of 11 March. Flights have since resumed, but the incident briefly disrupted one of the world’s busiest international aviation hubs and a critical gateway for global air cargo flows.

Port congestion risk rising

The operational disruption comes at a time when global container shipping networks remain highly sensitive to sudden shocks.

When vessels are diverted or delayed, shipping networks can rapidly move from normal operations to congestion. Cargo diverted from disrupted Gulf ports is already being redirected to other locations, with India’s west coast ports among the first to experience increased volumes.

Shipping networks remain vulnerable because delays compound quickly across vessel rotations.  In 2025, Red Sea re-routings took about 9% of capacity out of the system, while port congestion took out a further 10%. That’s capacity lost, not because the ships didn’t exist, but because delays made them non-functional.

The current situation’s risk comes in two parts. First, as carriers abandon Suez transits because of the new strikes, schedules shift unevenly back toward the Cape of Good Hope. And as carriers move at different cadences, it creates vessel bunching, port congestion and massive service instability.

Secondly, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has trapped vessels and forced carriers to suspend transits, creating a sudden loss of capacity that is rippling through the whole supply chain.

Air cargo capacity tightening across global routes

Air freight markets are also tightening as disruption across Middle Eastern aviation hubs affects global cargo connectivity.

Many international air cargo supply chains rely on Gulf carriers and airports as transit points between Asia, Europe and North America. When these hubs face operational disruption or flight cancellations, cargo must be rerouted through alternative airports and airlines.

The impact is already visible in export markets heavily dependent on these connections. In Bangladesh, where around 60% of air cargo typically moves through Middle Eastern hubs, hundreds of flights have been cancelled since late February.

As a result, air freight rates to Europe have more than tripled, while rates to the United States have almost doubled, reflecting the sudden shortage of available capacity.

What this means for shippers

The attacks on Salalah and the temporary disruption at Dubai International Airport highlight how quickly events in the region can affect global logistics infrastructure.

For shippers, the immediate risks include reduced air cargo capacity, potential vessel delays linked to bunkering disruption, and increased pressure on alternative ports and airports as cargo flows are redirected.

Metro is monitoring developments across Middle Eastern ports, airports and carrier networks and will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.

If your shipments move through affected trade lanes, contact your Metro account manager to review routing options and ensure your supply chain remains resilient as conditions develop.

container haulage

Middle East situation triggers emergency fuel surcharges

Mar 11, 2026 | , ,

The continuing disruption in the Middle East is beginning to affect container shipping costs globally, with carriers introducing emergency fuel surcharges and rate increases across several major trade lanes.

Global bunker prices have surged in recent weeks, with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) rising by almost 40% since the initial military strikes on Iran. The increase reflects tightening oil supply and heightened market uncertainty linked to the closure of key regional shipping corridors.

The Middle East is a major exporter of fuel oil and accounts for around 35% of the fuel imported into Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub. As supply concerns intensify, fuel costs are expected to continue influencing freight pricing in the coming weeks.

Several major container carriers have already moved to pass these increased costs through to customers.

MSC has announced an emergency fuel surcharge for cargo moving from the Mediterranean and Black Sea, while CMA CGM will introduce its own fuel surcharge across its services, with both taking effect in the coming days.

These measures are likely to be followed by other carriers as the industry responds to rising bunker costs.

Freight markets beginning to react

Ocean freight markets have already begun to respond to the combination of higher fuel prices, geopolitical uncertainty and continued disruption across Middle Eastern shipping routes.

Recent spot rate indices on the Asia–Europe and Asia–Mediterranean trades show container rates rising week-on-week. Across the transpacific, rates to the US West Coast have surged sharply, while prices to the US East Coast have also moved higher, though to a lesser extent.

Carriers are also signalling further increases across Asia–Europe services from mid-March as they respond to higher operating costs and ongoing uncertainty around the reopening of Suez Canal routings.

Some cargo flows normally destined for Gulf markets are also being redirected via alternative land and sea corridors, including inland routes through Turkey, which may influence capacity utilisation and pricing across neighbouring trade lanes.

UK road transport also feeling fuel pressure

The increase in global oil prices is also beginning to affect UK road transport costs, which form a key part of inland supply chains.

The Road Haulage Association has called for urgent discussions with the UK government after a sharp rise in diesel prices, warning that hauliers are facing rapidly increasing operating costs.

As a result, many UK merchant hauliers are introducing or increasing fuel surcharges to reflect the higher diesel costs of container collection and positioning. This means that the impact of rising fuel prices is now being felt not only in international shipping but also across domestic transport and distribution.

What this means for shippers

The combination of rising bunker costs, emergency surcharges and higher road fuel prices is likely to increase logistics costs across several parts of the supply chain in the short term.

Metro is monitoring carrier announcements, bunker price movements and transport developments closely and will continue to update customers as the situation evolves.

If you would like to discuss how these developments may affect your shipments or explore alternative routing strategies, please contact your Metro representative or EMAIL Managing Director Andrew Smith.

Category: Sea

Air | Middle East | Sea | Uncategorized

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