Critical – maritime access, security and capacity remain severely disrupted

Good day!   Risk posture: Critical – maritime access, security and capacity remain severely disrupted   Purpose: Executive circulation and operational decision support   Executive summary Strait of Hormuz conditions deteriorated further. Vessel movements remained at just over 10% of the pre-conflict weekly average, and a bulk carrier was struck near Oman. Iran said an Oman-mediated maritime arrangement was close, while explicitly cautioning that this would not amount to reopening the strait. Red Sea security risk escalated on 9 August following attacks on Mocha port in Yemen and an Aramco facility in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. CMA CGM introduced exceptional Dangerous Goods surcharges of USD 5,000–5,200 per container on specified Europe/North Africa–GCC and Red Sea trades. UAE and GCC air cargo remain capacity-constrained. Emirates SkyCargo is accepting Dubai transit cargo only where onward connections are confirmed, while several foreign carriers continue suspensions or booking controls. Khorfakkan and Fujairah remain important alternatives, but customs and trucking execution require close coordination. Jeddah landside delays were reported at approximately 10–12 days after discharge.   Immediate management priorities

Priority	Management direction	Commercial control
Routing assurance	Obtain written carrier confirmation of vessel, route, insurance and fallback arrangements before committing.	Short quotation validity; no fixed transit-time guarantee.
Cost recovery	Revalidate DG and emergency surcharges on every affected file.	Written customer acceptance; variable pass-through wording.
Capacity control	Confirm uplift, onward connection and road capacity before cargo collection or dispatch.	Quote routing and capacity changes as chargeable contingencies.
Alternative gateways	Keep Khorfakkan, Fujairah, Sohar and Salalah options active.	Pre-clear customs/transit documents and price added handling.

 

1. Strait of Hormuz

CRITICAL Confirmed reporting During 27 July–2 August, 84 vessel movements were recorded—just over 10% of the pre-conflict weekly average of approximately 700. Approximately 6,000 seafarers aboard 500 vessels were reported to remain trapped in the Gulf. The bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 20 nautical miles north of Oman, causing an engine-room blackout and fire. Iran said talks with Oman on new maritime routes were in their final stages, but stated that this did not mean the strait would reopen. Management assessment: Routine direct-Gulf services cannot yet be treated as dependable. Selective transits or a temporary Oman arrangement should not be interpreted as restoration of normal commercial access. Required action: Obtain written carrier confirmation of the nominated vessel, routing, insurance cover and contingency arrangements before accepting firm customer commitments. Keep Khorfakkan, Fujairah, Sohar and Salalah alternatives active. Source: Associated Press, 9 August 2026 Source: The Guardian, 9 August 2026  

1. Red Sea / Saudi corridor

CRITICAL Confirmed reporting Houthi forces attacked Mocha port on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and claimed a drone attack on an Aramco refinery facility in Jazan. Saudi authorities reported a fire at the Jazan facility with no casualties; Saudi Arabia did not confirm the stated cause. Management assessment: The attacks increase the probability of carrier avoidance, Cape diversions, and higher security and insurance costs on Jeddah- and Bab el-Mandeb-linked movements. Required action: Use Red Sea routing for urgent cargo only after receiving written carrier routing confirmation. Maintain Cape contingency pricing and avoid fixed transit-time guarantees. Source: Associated Press, 9 August 2026  

1. CMA CGM Dangerous Goods surcharge

CRITICAL – COMMERCIAL Confirmed reporting North Europe to Jeddah/Port Sudan: USD 5,100 per 20-foot container and USD 5,200 per 40-/45-foot container, effective 3 August. Mediterranean to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Dammam and Red Sea ports: USD 5,000 per container, effective 4 August. North Africa to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Dammam: USD 5,000 per container, effective 6 August. Bunker, terminal, peak-season, security, contingency and local charges may apply in addition. Required action: Revalidate every open and pending CMA CGM DG quotation. Obtain written customer acceptance before booking, and present all emergency and DG-related charges as variable pass-through costs. Source: CMA CGM Advisory 13  

1. UAE / GCC air cargo

HIGH Confirmed reporting Emirates SkyCargo reported operations to 137 destinations, including 55 freighter points; bookings remained subject to capacity. Dubai transit cargo was accepted only where the onward connection was confirmed and operational; Class 1 Dangerous Goods remained restricted. Cargolux suspended Middle East stops except Muscat, while several European and Asian carriers continued UAE/GCC suspensions or booking controls. Management assessment: Dubai remains functional as an air-cargo hub, but uplift, connections and pricing cannot be assumed from published schedules alone. Required action: Secure confirmed space and onward uplift before collection. Maintain a 48–72-hour operational buffer, and quote capacity or routing changes as chargeable contingencies. Source: Expeditors Middle East operational update, 5 August 2026  

1. Ports, customs and GCC road freight

HIGH Confirmed reporting Jeddah was reported operational but congested, with landside delays of approximately 10–12 days after discharge. Khorfakkan and Fujairah were operating as alternatives outside the Hormuz risk area; Khorfakkan customs processing remained delayed, particularly through Sharjah Customs. Container-to-truck solutions from Khorfakkan for onward GCC delivery were available, but required coordination between Khorfakkan and Jebel Ali authorities. Qatar ground capacity was reduced by nationality-based driver-entry restrictions. Bahrain’s free zone reopened on an appointment basis. LTL delays were expected, while FTL capacity remained available. Management assessment: Alternative gateways remain viable, but customs, inter-authority coordination and road-capacity constraints can materially erode transit-time advantages. Required action: Quote the Jeddah landbridge with realistic dwell assumptions. Pre-clear customs and transit documents for Khorfakkan movements; reserve FTL capacity early for Qatar and Bahrain; and obtain surcharge approval before dispatch. Source: Expeditors Middle East operational update, 5 August 2026   What to watch next week Publication of usable procedures and vessel-eligibility criteria under any Iran–Oman maritime arrangement. Carrier routing, suspension and insurance responses following the Mocha and Jazan attacks. Further Dangerous Goods, war-risk, fuel or contingency surcharge notices. Jeddah congestion and Khorfakkan/Sharjah Customs clearance performance. UAE airspace status and restoration of foreign-carrier capacity.     Management position Protect margin and service credibility. All affected quotations should carry short validity, written carrier-space confirmation, emergency-surcharge pass-through, flexible-routing language, and a clear exclusion for delays arising from conflict, port congestion or authority restrictions.   Editorial note: This briefing has been professionally edited from the supplied source material. Operational conditions remain fluid and should be reconfirmed with the relevant carrier, authority or service provider before execution. Reporting window: 3–9 August 2026 | Management circulation