Ongoing military actions in the Middle East are putting regional food supplies at risk as nearly 18% of global air freight capacity is currently unavailable and the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, reports Baltimore Chronicle via Financial Times, SRF, Reuters. Stefan Paul, CEO of the international logistics company Kuehne + Nagel, emphasized that the disruption affects cargo ranging from temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals to fresh fruits, with shipments piling up at production sites.
According to Bloomberg, freight rates to Europe from Southeast Asia surged by more than 6% to $3.82 per kilogram on February 27, the day before the first bombings in Iran. Rates from the Middle East to Europe increased by 8% to $1.62 per kilogram, while prices from China to the United States jumped 15%, reaching $6.90 per kilogram. The price pressures are tied to the closure of airspace over the Persian Gulf region, limiting cargo operations by carriers including Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad, whose airport hubs in Dubai handle approximately one-quarter of all capacity between China and Europe.
In addition to air freight disruptions, nearly 100 container ships are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf region. Parts of the Middle East are cut off from essential food imports as vessels avoid the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for most grain and other essential products. Out of roughly 30 million tons of grain imported to the Gulf region in 2025, about 14 million tons were directed to Iran, primarily passing through the Strait.
Saudi Arabia depends on its eastern ports for nearly 40% of its grain and oilseed imports, while the United Arab Emirates imports approximately 90% of such goods through the Jebel Ali port in Dubai. Kpler analyst Ishan Bhanu warns that “there is an immediate risk to food security in the region,” noting that Gulf states are “heavily reliant on food imports.”
Stefan Paul highlighted that Dubai currently has fresh food supplies sufficient for only about ten days. “Given the volume of imports, stocks—especially of fresh products—can run out quickly,” he said. He suggested that goods could be flown into Saudi Arabia and then transported by truck, but added, “One container ship carries 20,000 containers. You simply cannot book enough trucks to handle that volume.” Paul cautioned that if the situation continues, supply chain bottlenecks are inevitable.
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