The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions in the Red Sea are reshaping global trade routes, with Africa emerging as a central hub for container shipping, according to logistics and maritime sources.
Over the past two months, the closure of Hormuz has forced shipping companies to seek alternative land routes to transport food and manufactured goods by truck to Gulf countries—commodities that can no longer be delivered by sea.
What are the alternative routes to the Gulf?
Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea is becoming a new regional hub, receiving vessels from major shipping companies such as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM, Maersk, and COSCO Shipping via the Suez Canal.
Goods are then transported overland across desert routes to Gulf destinations such as Sharjah, Bahrain, and Kuwait City, which have experienced maritime disruptions in recent months.
However, Jeddah Port is struggling to handle the surge in imports, with congestion expected to worsen, according to logistics experts. Data shows rising waiting times for container ships compared to previous weeks.
Other ports used for Gulf deliveries
Shipping companies are also using ports such as Sohar, Khor Fakkan, and Fujairah—all located outside the Strait of Hormuz and connected by land to other UAE cities.
Jordan’s Aqaba port is being used as a logistics base to ship goods to Baghdad and Basra in Iraq, while a Turkish corridor allows transport into northern Iraq.
Why are ships avoiding the Suez Canal?
The shift away from the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Suez Canal began before the Iran conflict but intensified due to it.
It dates back to November 19, 2023, following attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces on container ships off the Yemeni coast, prompting a systematic rerouting of vessels.
Ships now sail around Africa, following its eastern coastline to the Cape of Good Hope, before heading north toward Europe and the Mediterranean.
According to supply chain experts, about 70% of shipping flows that were expected to pass through the Red Sea in 2023 are now rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope.
Data also shows that container ship traffic around the Cape has more than tripled in three years, while traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal has dropped by over half.
Between March 1 and April 24, 2026, an average of 20 container ships per day passed the Cape of Good Hope, compared to just six during the same period in 2023.
Meanwhile, Red Sea traffic declined sharply—from 18 daily transits through Bab el-Mandeb in 2023 to just five after three years.
What are the implications?
Shipping times between Asia and Europe have increased by about two weeks, with costs rising due to 30–50% higher fuel consumption and the need for 10–20% more vessels to maintain schedules.
According to freight indices, the average cost of transporting a 40-foot container rose by 14% in April 2026 compared to the same month last year, though variations exist between shipping companies.
Some African ports are experiencing increased activity. For instance, Port of Tangier Med handled 11 million containers in 2025, marking an 8.4% increase.
However, Egypt has lost a significant portion of its revenue from Suez Canal transit fees—one of its key income sources. Estimates suggest losses of around $7 billion in 2024, representing a drop of more than 60% compared to 2023.
AFP
