According to www.freightwaves.com, the U.S.-led war in Iran is costing Hapag-Lloyd $40 million to $50 million per week, driven primarily by surging bunker fuel and insurance expenses, as well as elevated storage and inland transportation costs.
Operational Disruptions and Vessel Constraints
Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen confirmed on an earnings call that the carrier currently has six container ships trapped in the Persian Gulf, with a combined capacity of 25,000 TEUs. These are feeder-sized vessels typically used for short-haul port-to-port shuttling. Due to Iranian restrictions on maritime transit, the company cannot call ports inside the Gulf — though it continues limited service to Salalah in Oman and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
The conflict has also forced Hapag-Lloyd to suspend services through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea–Suez Canal route. The latter remains closed due to renewed threats from Houthi militia in Yemen, who have pledged support for Iran. Habben Jansen stated:
“I think right now it would not have been right to assume that the Red Sea opens up soon. The scenario where that remains largely closed for 2026, I think is right now the most realistic.”
Financial and Contractual Impact
The German liner reported a decline in operating profit to $3.5 billion in 2025, down from $4.9 billion in 2024, citing higher conflict-related costs and persistent global overcapacity. While cargo volumes increased, margins were eroded by extraordinary expenditures.
Habben Jansen noted that approximately 50% of Hapag-Lloyd’s contract freight to the region is exposed to disruption. To offset rising outlays, the company introduced contingency and emergency charges — though revenue recovery is delayed due to contractual terms and billing cycles.
Strategic Monitoring and Bunker Risk
The carrier is actively monitoring potential fuel supply constraints, especially given volatility in Middle Eastern oil production and refining. As Habben Jansen explained:
“We are definitely looking into that, because we also see that there is potentially a risk of shortage. Asia is not one of our biggest bunkering locations, but it is certainly something to keep an eye on.”
This situation reflects broader industry strain: Maersk and MSC have similarly rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope since late 2023, adding 10–14 days to Asia–Europe transits and inflating costs across the board. According to Drewry’s 2025 Global Container Line Performance Report, average repositioning surcharges rose 220% year-on-year among top-10 carriers, with Persian Gulf and Red Sea exposure contributing disproportionately to cost inflation. For supply chain professionals, this means extended lead times, volatile spot rates, heightened insurance premiums (up 300–500% for Gulf transits per Allianz Marine’s 2026 Risk Barometer), and urgent pressure to audit single-point dependencies in sourcing and routing — particularly for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components reliant on just-in-time flows through these corridors.
Source: FreightWaves
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
