Iran war redraws sea routes with Africa as the pivot
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions in the Red Sea have forced global shipping routes to shift, with Africa emerging as a central hub for container traffic. Shipowners are rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope and using alternative ports such as Jeddah, Sohar, and Aqaba, while relying on overland transport to reach Gulf countries. These changes have led to increased transit times, higher fuel consumption, rising shipping costs, and congestion at previously underutilized ports.
- ▪The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea disruptions have led to 70% of 2023 Red Sea freight traffic being rerouted around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.
- ▪Ports such as Jeddah, Sohar, Khorfakkan, Fujairah, and Aqaba are being used as alternative entry points, with goods transported overland to Gulf countries.
- ▪Commercial vessel traffic via the Cape of Good Hope has more than tripled since 2023, while traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has fallen by over half.
- ▪Transit times between Asia and Europe have increased by two weeks on average, with shipping costs rising due to higher fuel consumption and the need for more vessels.
- ▪Jeddah port is experiencing congestion due to increased cargo volumes, with container ship wait times nearly doubling in late April 2026.
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Iran war redraws sea routes with Africa as the pivotSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxShipowners have said they will use three ports outside the Strait of Hormuz – Oman’s Sohar, and the UAE ports of Khorfakkan and Fujairah, which are connected by land from the United Arab Emirates.PHOTO: REUTERSPublished May 01, 2026, 11:40 AMUpdated May 01, 2026, 11:40 AMPARIS – The closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as tensions in the Red Sea are reshaping trade routes, with Africa becoming a hub of global container ship traffic, according to logistics and maritime sources.Over the past two months, the blockade has also pushed shipowners to find alternative land corridors to deliver foodstuffs and manufactured goods by truck, as they can no longer reach the Gulf’s coastal…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.