CBPi CUSTOMER & AGENT ADVISORY
CBPI advises all customers and overseas agents of significant and ongoing disruptions to ocean carrier services into and out of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean following the rapid escalation of the conflict involving Iran.
Major global ocean carriers have enacted service suspensions, booking halts, vessel withdrawals, rerouting measures, and emergency surcharges in response to heightened geopolitical and maritime security risks affecting critical trade corridors and chokepoints.
These developments are creating widespread impact on global schedules, transit times, freight rates, equipment positioning, port operations, and inland logistics networks. The situation remains fluid and subject to immediate operational changes without prior notice.
Current Situation
Based on carrier advisories and maritime authority reporting, the following conditions are presently in effect:
- Strait of Hormuz
Commercial vessel transits are effectively suspended. This prevents direct ocean access to Persian Gulf ports including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (Gulf coast), and Iraq. Vessels previously operating in the region have been directed to safe waters or standby anchorage.
- Suez Canal & Red Sea (Bab el-Mandeb Strait)
All major carriers have suspended Suez Canal transits and Bab el-Mandeb routing. Services are being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, significantly extending sailing distance and voyage duration.
- Eastern Mediterranean
While ports remain operational, services linked to Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Red Sea routings are being withdrawn, restructured, or blanked. This is resulting in omitted port calls, blank sailings, rolled cargo, and congestion at transshipment hubs across the Mediterranean and Europe.
Impact to CBPI Customers and Agents
All customers and partners should anticipate the following impacts across affected trade lanes:
- No direct ocean access to Persian Gulf ports
- Extended transit times (estimated +10–20 days or longer) due to Cape of Good Hope routing
- Increased risk of blank sailings, rolled cargo, and schedule unreliability
- Equipment imbalances and container shortages in certain origins
- Emergency Conflict Surcharges and War Risk Surcharges imposed by carriers
- Increased congestion at Eastern Mediterranean and European transshipment hubs
- Space constraints on connecting feeder services
- Heightened insurance and security-related costs
Trucking and Inland Delivery Advisory
In addition to ocean freight disruptions, CBPI advises customers and agents of parallel challenges affecting trucking and final delivery operations:
- Increase in fuel prices resulting in higher inland trucking and last-mile delivery costs
- Reduced truck availability due to equipment displacement, operational backlogs, and delays
- Possible trucking rate adjustments without long-term notice
- Longer lead times for delivery scheduling and empty container repositioning
- Increased congestion at container yards and depots due to vessel delays and bunching
Customers are strongly advised to pre-book early and allow flexibility in delivery scheduling to avoid storage, demurrage, and detention exposure.
This situation remains highly dynamic and may escalate or stabilize without prior notice. CBPI remains committed to maintaining transparent communication, proactive coordination, and operational support to minimize disruption to your supply chain.
Further updates will be issued as new information becomes available.
For shipment-specific concerns, please coordinate directly with cs.intl@cbpi.com.ph.