Maersk has issued an operational update warning that navigation conditions in the Strait of Hormuz and its surroundings remain restrictive. The recent incidents of vessel retention in the area underscore the uncertainty of the situation, to which the Danish shipping company will continue to operate with maximum caution to prioritize the safety of its personnel, its assets, and the cargo of its customers. The company maintains active contingency plans specific to vessels transiting the region.
In the area of terminals, Maersk teams are recording an increase in occupancy density in the yards of the terminals in Antwerp, Bremerhaven, and Hamburg, prompting the shipping company to request that its customers pick up their import units as soon as possible after unloading. In southern Europe, the terminals in Port Said (Egypt) and Mersin (Turkey) continue to experience adverse weather conditions affecting operations and vessel scheduling. Maersk teams are working with the terminals to maximize resource use and establish cargo evacuation plans when necessary.
In Rotterdam, the expansion works at APM Terminals will require suspending merchant haulage railway services starting July 1, 2026. These services are expected to be restored in January 2027, while carrier haulage will remain operational throughout the period.
In the air cargo segment, capacity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe remains limited, as airlines continue to adjust their schedules in response to airspace restrictions and operational disruptions. Several European and Asia-Pacific airlines have extended the suspension of passenger flights to and from parts of the Middle East, and some have canceled services for the entire summer season. These reductions limit hold capacity and add pressure to long-haul flows between Asia and Europe. Additionally, there are operational cost pressures resulting from rising kerosene prices and fuel supply restrictions at various Asian and European airports, leading airlines to reduce frequencies or withdraw aircraft from their networks. To mitigate these conditions, Maersk is deploying alternative air and multimodal transport solutions, including capacity on freighters, expanded use of gateways outside the Gulf, and sea-air combinations.
