Six days of escalating conflict in the Gulf have plunged Australian supply chains into disarray, according to a 4 March special update from D&D Worldwide Logistics. Following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s missile retaliation, 11 Gulf countries closed their airspace and every major ocean carrier suspended transits of the Strait of Hormuz. (ddwlogistics.com)
For Australian importers and exporters the Gulf is more than a market—it is the primary transit hub for cargo moving between Australia, Europe and the UK. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have halted commercial passenger and belly-hold freight flights, slashing available capacity on Australia–Europe lanes by an estimated 18 per cent week-on-week. Ocean lines Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM have rerouted vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, adding at least 14 days to voyage times and imposing war-risk or emergency conflict surcharges. (ddwlogistics.com)
Forwarders report backlogs building at Australian origin airports as perishables, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce consignments miss their connections in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Spot air-freight rates to Europe have already jumped 35 per cent since 1 March, while container rates on the North-Europe service are expected to rise when carriers publish next-week programmes.
![Middle-East conflict triggers worst freight disruption for Australian shippers since COVID-19]()
If critical staff now have to transit unfamiliar airports or enter new jurisdictions to keep freight moving, obtaining the right travel documents quickly becomes another bottleneck. VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers rapid visa checks, step-by-step online applications and concierge support, helping logistics teams secure transit and work visas at short notice so their supply chains can adapt with minimal delay.
Businesses with just-in-time inventory models are the hardest hit. Automotive suppliers in Victoria report line-stop risks within ten days if parts do not clear backlog. Large retailers are advancing purchase orders and switching to trans-Pacific routings via Los Angeles, despite higher costs and longer inland moves. Food exporters shipping lamb and citrus to the UK face spoilage concerns and may shift to East-Coast North American gateways until air capacity normalises.
D&D Worldwide advises Australian traders to “assume space is unavailable unless confirmed,” lodge advanced dangerous-goods declarations, and budget for surcharges that could exceed AUD 1,000 per TEU. While Jebel Ali has reopened, carrier-level embargoes mean meaningful relief is unlikely before mid-March. Contingency planning, extra safety stock and multi-modal flexibility are now critical for Australian companies reliant on Europe-bound supply chains.
For Australian importers and exporters the Gulf is more than a market—it is the primary transit hub for cargo moving between Australia, Europe and the UK. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have halted commercial passenger and belly-hold freight flights, slashing available capacity on Australia–Europe lanes by an estimated 18 per cent week-on-week. Ocean lines Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM have rerouted vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, adding at least 14 days to voyage times and imposing war-risk or emergency conflict surcharges. (ddwlogistics.com)
Forwarders report backlogs building at Australian origin airports as perishables, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce consignments miss their connections in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Spot air-freight rates to Europe have already jumped 35 per cent since 1 March, while container rates on the North-Europe service are expected to rise when carriers publish next-week programmes.
If critical staff now have to transit unfamiliar airports or enter new jurisdictions to keep freight moving, obtaining the right travel documents quickly becomes another bottleneck. VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers rapid visa checks, step-by-step online applications and concierge support, helping logistics teams secure transit and work visas at short notice so their supply chains can adapt with minimal delay.
Businesses with just-in-time inventory models are the hardest hit. Automotive suppliers in Victoria report line-stop risks within ten days if parts do not clear backlog. Large retailers are advancing purchase orders and switching to trans-Pacific routings via Los Angeles, despite higher costs and longer inland moves. Food exporters shipping lamb and citrus to the UK face spoilage concerns and may shift to East-Coast North American gateways until air capacity normalises.
D&D Worldwide advises Australian traders to “assume space is unavailable unless confirmed,” lodge advanced dangerous-goods declarations, and budget for surcharges that could exceed AUD 1,000 per TEU. While Jebel Ali has reopened, carrier-level embargoes mean meaningful relief is unlikely before mid-March. Contingency planning, extra safety stock and multi-modal flexibility are now critical for Australian companies reliant on Europe-bound supply chains.
