The maritime “permacrisis” has reached a new level of severity. Evergreen and COSCO Shipping have officially suspended their dedicated Asia-Middle East loops, as the regional conflict makes regular liner services through the Gulf increasingly untenable.
As the Strait of Hormuz deadlock enters its second month, the world’s largest carriers are prioritising vessel safety over market share, a move that will further squeeze global capacity.
Why these suspensions are a strategic turning point for 2026:
✅ Capacity Drain: The withdrawal of these loops removes thousands of TEUs from the market, forcing a massive shift toward CMA CGM’s new land corridors and sustaining the 80% surge in airfreight rates.
✅ Bunker Pressure: With shipowners warning of fuel shortages and VLSFO hitting $1,100 per tonne, suspending high-risk routes allows carriers to conserve fuel for more stable trade lanes like ONE’s expanded Busan hub.
✅ The “Safe Hub” Pivot: Cargo is now being diverted to “safe-zone” ports, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s eased maritime rules and APM Terminals’ Vietnam expansion as the new pillars of the Indo-Pacific trade.
From Elon Musk’s $25B Texas TeraFab to Maastricht’s record flower handling, the logistics world is rapidly remapping itself. The suspension of these loops is the clearest signal yet that traditional Middle East shipping routes are no longer “business as usual.”
Read the full service suspension report here:
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