Maersk suspends reefer and dangerous cargo bookings with India Subcontinent and Upper Gulf
Change
Maersk suspended acceptance of refrigerated (reefer) and dangerous or special cargo to and from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia and halted new bookings between the India Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) and Upper Gulf ports until further notice, with exceptions for critical foodstuffs and medicines.
Why it matters
Shippers moving perishable or hazardous goods on these routes must secure alternative ocean or sea‑air carriers because Maersk capacity for those cargo types is no longer available on affected services. Reduced airspace availability across several Gulf states also limits air‑cargo options, creating higher risk of transit delays, routing changes and additional surcharges that force earlier booking and pricing decisions.
Implications
- • Logistics procurement teams at importers and exporters of refrigerated and hazardous cargo between the India Subcontinent and Upper Gulf must immediately rebook shipments with alternative carriers or gates to avoid missed delivery windows, because Maersk is not accepting new bookings for these cargo types until further notice.
- • Freight forwarders and customs brokers managing sea‑air and transshipment volumes through Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Hormuz Strait hubs must identify alternate transshipment gateways and update customers on revised transit times and costs to prevent operational bottlenecks.
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Source
Topics
Security & Defense Supply Chain & Logistics Aviation & Airspace