The conflict in the Middle East has reached a point where it's actively reshaping how goods move from China to Europe. The Red Sea and Suez Canal — the corridor that carries a large share of container traffic between Asia and Europe — are effectively closed.
Ships have been rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and cost to every shipment. If you're importing goods from China for the European market, now is the time to plan differently.
What happened and where things stand now
Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea forced the world's largest shipping lines to abandon the Suez Canal route. Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM have all redirected their fleets around the Cape of Good Hope, bypassing the Red Sea entirely.
At the same time, the broader escalation of conflict across the Middle East is putting additional pressure on the region — airspace closures, restricted logistics infrastructure, and growing uncertainty across the board.
What makes this particularly difficult to plan around is that the situation keeps changing. Several carriers attempted to return to the Suez Canal route in late 2025, only to reroute again around the Cape of Good Hope in early 2026 following a new wave of escalation. This isn't a short-term disruption — it's a pattern of instability with no clear end date.
All of this directly affects cargo moving from China to Europe, since container shipping on this route has always depended on the Red Sea and Suez Canal corridor.
What this means for imports from China to Europe
Ocean freight
Ocean freight is taking the hardest hit. Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope adds between 10 and 14 days to transit times. For European importers, that means cargo that previously arrived in 28–32 days is now taking 40–46 days or more.
Freight rates on the China–Mediterranean lane are climbing week by week, and the upward pressure will continue as long as the Cape of Good Hope detour remains in place.
Air freight
Emirates SkyCargo and Qatar Airways have suspended flights, and cargo capacity is significantly reduced. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain is closed or restricted, forcing aircraft onto longer routes. Every air shipment from China to Europe now requires earlier booking and higher budgets than a month ago.
Rail freight
Rail is still an option, but it's under pressure too. The Middle Corridor (China – Kazakhstan – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey) is absorbing a growing share of diverted cargo, which means congestion and longer wait times. It's faster than sea, slower than air — a useful middle ground when cargo isn't urgent, but a 45-day transit isn't acceptable either.
What this means in practice for your shipments
Middle East instability has historically pushed oil prices up, and that feeds directly into the fuel surcharges (bunker surcharge) that carriers apply to every shipment. Fuel is one of the biggest cost drivers in ocean freight — and when oil prices spike, both sea and air transport get more expensive, regardless of route.
If you have cargo due to arrive in the next 30–60 days, now is the time to check your shipment status and talk to your freight forwarder about alternatives. If you're planning a new order from China, build the following into your calculations:
- Extended transit times – add at least 10–14 days for ocean freight
- Higher transport costs – rates are rising, especially on the spot market
- Limited capacity – space on both vessels and aircraft is tighter than usual
- Book early – waiting means losing your slot
We're tracking the situation in real time — corridor closures, capacity availability and rate movements. A crisis doesn't have to mean a standstill. Contact us before you place your next order and we'll find the right combination of route, timing and cost for your shipment.
Send an enquiry →Questions we're hearing most (FAQ)
Will my cargo actually arrive?
Yes. Supply chains haven't stopped — ships and planes are still moving. The difference is that transit times and costs are not what they were before the crisis. The key is planning ahead.
How much longer will ocean freight take from China?
Under current conditions, add 10 to 14 days to your usual transit time. Instead of 28–32 days, expect 40–46 days or more depending on the carrier and route.
Are freight rates going up?
Ocean freight rates are already rising. Spot rates on the China–Europe lane are climbing. Long-term contracts currently offer better price predictability than the spot market.
Is air freight a better option right now?
It's faster, but more expensive — and capacity is squeezed due to airspace closures. We recommend air freight for urgent or high-value shipments, with early space reservation as a must.
What about rail from China?
Rail is still viable for cargo that isn't time-critical but can't wait six weeks. The Middle Corridor is active but under pressure. A solid secondary option, though capacity is limited.
My cargo is already on the way — what should I do?
Contact your freight forwarder to check the current status, routing and revised ETA. Better to know now than be caught off guard by a delay.
How can I protect myself from disruptions like this in the future?
A few practical steps: build more buffer into your inventory planning, diversify across transport modes, and consider long-term agreements with your freight forwarder rather than relying entirely on the spot market.