Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
Uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations in Doha is keeping shipping security through the Strait of Hormuz in focus, as Iran has reiterated its intention to oversee maritime traffic through the strategic waterway. Vessel transits are beginning to recover (~24 commodity vessels on Monday), but the fragile ceasefire and unresolved governance of the Strait continue to pose risks for shipping and energy markets.
Tanker crossings through the Strait of Hormuz remain severely reduced at approximately 11 per day, down from a peak of 24, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, though a slight recovery in inbound traffic suggests cautious confidence returning among shipowners. QatarEnergy has extended force majeure on some LNG shipments to Asia and Europe until August, and in some cases into early September, pointing to a prolonged disruption in LNG supply flows.
Peace talks between the US and Iran have raised hopes for a lasting resolution and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route previously disrupted by Middle East hostilities. Coal, oil, and natural gas prices have retreated to pre-war levels as markets anticipate improved passage through the strait and a rebound in Middle Eastern energy production.
Alcoa's $4.1bn acquisition of South32's bauxite, alumina, and aluminium assets across Australia, Brazil, and South Africa could reshape dry bulk shipping demand by consolidating major bauxite and alumina supply chains. Changes in sourcing, export controls, or refining locations — particularly involving Guinea's growing role as a key bauxite supplier — may significantly alter tonne-mile demand for bulk carriers on long-haul routes such as Guinea-China.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz throughout Q2 2026 has severely disrupted VLCC crude oil trade, forcing rerouting through Fujairah, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea while pushing Atlantic Basin volumes higher. No Arabian Gulf VLCC fixtures were concluded, tonnemile patterns shifted significantly, and markets remain highly volatile pending a geopolitical resolution.
Iran reports a foreign container ship ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz while using an 'unauthorized' transit route, as the Islamic Republic continues to enforce control over shipping through the waterway, demanding fees and imposing designated routes. Despite a provisional US-Iran peace deal, Iran signals it will maintain oversight of Strait of Hormuz traffic, posing ongoing disruption risks to vessels transiting the Persian Gulf.
US-Iran diplomatic talks in Qatar are progressing positively, leading to a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a recovery in tanker traffic to pre-war levels. Oil prices have fallen significantly as supply disruption concerns ease, with OPEC+ expected to further increase output targets from August.
Repair work is ongoing on the Dunkirk breakwater, which may affect vessel access and port operations at the Port of Dunkirk, France. The duration and exact scope of the disruption remain unclear based on available content.
The Port of La Guaira in Venezuela was temporarily closed following two magnitude 7+ earthquakes on June 24, 2026, and has been partially reopened for humanitarian relief operations with the help of 130 US Marines. However, the port has not yet been reopened to commercial shipping, causing ongoing disruption to regular maritime traffic.
The US Treasury (OFAC & FinCEN) has sanctioned individuals and entities linked to a CJNG cartel fuel smuggling network that uses shadow fleets of maritime vessels to move illicit hydrocarbons between the US and Mexico. Maritime service providers, vessel operators, brokers, and terminal operators now face heightened due diligence requirements around fuel cargo movements into Mexico, potentially causing operational slowdowns and compliance-related disruptions.
A COSCO Shipping Ports-led consortium has been awarded a new multipurpose terminal concession at the Port of Tarragona, Spain, covering over 510,000 sq m and capable of handling containers, RoRo, vehicles, and rail-borne cargo. The project, valued at €144.6m, is still subject to final regulatory approvals and concession agreement execution, with no confirmed start date yet.
The UK has extended its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to domestic shipping from July 1, 2026, covering cargo and passenger vessels of 5,000 GT and above on voyages between UK ports and in-port activities. Operators must monitor and surrender carbon allowances, adding compliance and cost burdens that may affect vessel scheduling and port operations across the UK.
Kuwait has issued an updated AIS protocol requiring vessels to keep their AIS continuously operational while navigating Kuwaiti waters. Additionally, marine works are ongoing between Chek Lap Kok and Tung Chung, potentially affecting vessel movements in that area of Hong Kong.
A June 2026 review highlights confusion around the Strait of Hormuz and soaring freight rates, suggesting potential disruptions to vessel traffic and shipping routes through this critical maritime chokepoint. The situation may be causing rerouting or slowdowns affecting vessels transiting the Persian Gulf region.
Ongoing Middle East geopolitical disruptions continue to affect ocean and air freight routing in the Gulf region, with booking restrictions in place for Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and parts of Saudi Arabia. Maersk is rerouting cargo previously planned via Jeddah through alternative gateways such as Salalah and Khor Fakkan, leading to longer transit times and additional surcharges.
Bunker fuel availability is under significant strain across multiple East of Suez ports, with VLSFO and LSMGO supply tightness reported in Singapore, Japan, China, India, and the Middle East, compounded by weather-related disruptions forecast at South Korean, Indian, Sri Lankan, Omani, and Saudi Arabian ports between late June and early July 2026. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a US-Iran MOU has begun to ease supply conditions in Fujairah, though shipping activity remains in gradual recovery with some operators still cautious.
MSC's Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) will invest $1.4 billion for a 49% stake in Vizhinjam Port, India's first deep-draft mega transshipment hub, cementing it as a dominant Indian Ocean transshipment gateway. The partnership is expected to boost cargo volumes, strengthen East Africa trade routes, and expand the port's capacity from 1.6 million TEUs to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028.
The 2026 El Niño, declared by NOAA in June 2026 and forecast to reach moderate-to-strong intensity by fall, poses distinct operational risks across five major shipping corridors, including the Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic. The Panama Canal is identified as the most critical chokepoint, with drought-driven transit restrictions potentially replicating the 2023–24 crisis when daily transits halved and LNG carrier transits fell 66%, forcing widespread global rerouting.
The Strait of Hormuz has reopened after more than 100 days of conflict-driven disruption, with daily ship transits gradually recovering, though freight costs remain elevated and supply chains are still normalizing. UNCTAD warns that lasting economic scars — including persistent food inflation, higher transport costs, and energy price shocks — will continue to burden vulnerable economies long after shipping fully recovers.
Iran is escalating its push to control maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, including potential fee imposition on passing vessels, amid ongoing US-Iran conflict and fragile ceasefire. Shipping traffic through the strait remains significantly below pre-war levels, with recent Iranian attacks on ships and uncertainty over post-interim-deal conditions threatening further disruption to the flow of global oil and LNG supplies.
US retailers are frontloading orders from China by 4–6 weeks ahead of anticipated tariff hikes, driving a spike in container shipping rates and tightening capacity on China–US trade routes. Spot rates from Shanghai to New York and Los Angeles have surged significantly, with volumes expected to peak before fading later in Q3 2026.
Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran have shut in approximately one-fifth of global monthly LNG supply, stalling trade growth in 2026 and damaging Qatar's export facilities. Flows are expected to potentially normalize within three months, with LNG trade growth forecast to resume in 2027.
A U.S. congressman is urging the Trump administration to deploy Navy hospital ships USNS Comfort or USNS Mercy to Venezuela following devastating earthquakes that killed over 1,400 people. Both vessels are currently undergoing maintenance — USNS Mercy at Vigor Shipyard in Portland, Oregon, and USNS Comfort at Alabama Shipyard — raising uncertainty about their readiness for rapid humanitarian deployment.
A new report from Navigistics Consulting, commissioned by the American Maritime Partnership, challenges the Trump administration's emergency Jones Act waiver, finding no evidence of military necessity or gasoline price relief while 137 domestic voyages have been conducted under the waiver since March 2026. The waiver, extended through August 17, 2026, has shifted domestic cargoes to foreign-flag vessels (including Chinese-built and Chinese-controlled ships), disrupting the U.S. domestic maritime market and affecting freight rate negotiations with Jones Act operators.