Rhenus, Maersk expand Gulf land routes amid Hormuz disruption

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Rhenus and Maersk are expanding overland Gulf freight routes as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz continues to force carriers into alternative road and rail options.

Maersk describes the strait as effectively closed for safe transit, while Reuters reports that limited tanker movements have recently resumed under controlled conditions. So the route is severely disrupted, not fully free-flowing.

Rhenus has activated a Europe and Türkiye to Gulf corridor through Jordan, serving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The company says more than 190,000 kg has moved through the corridor, including an oil and gas shipment from Lyon to the UAE completed in 18 days.

Maersk says it is expanding multimodal landbridge solutions across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq, while warning that availability remains subject to local conditions and regulations.

The carrier has also imposed emergency freight charges of $1,800 for 20 foot dry containers, $3,000 for 40 foot dry containers and $3,800 for reefer, special and dangerous goods containers on affected Gulf trades.

For cargo already en route, Maersk is offering options including temporary storage, return to origin or change of destination. Storage fees apply after 14 days at selected transit ports.

Like water finding another channel around a blocked lock gate, Gulf supply chains are moving where they can. For now, that means more trucks, more border planning and higher landed costs.