Container Lines Offer Convoluted Routings from Asia to Middle East

In response to ongoing security concerns in the southern Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, major container shipping lines are offering increasingly convoluted routings to connect cargo from Asia to the Middle East, according to a report from *Seatrade Maritime*. The report notes that both MSC and CMA CGM have introduced complex multi-leg services that incorporate inland transportation legs to bypass the high-risk waterways. For example, MSC's 'Gulf Express' service from Asia to the Middle East now includes a rail leg from Jebel Ali in the UAE to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Similarly, CMA CGM has introduced a service that moves containers by truck from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Aqaba, Jordan before continuing by sea. These circuitous routings add significant time and cost to the supply chain, but shipping lines are prioritizing safety and reliability over efficiency in the current geopolitical climate. 'There is a lot of uncertainty and risk in the region, so the carriers are having to get creative with their network designs,' said one industry analyst. The security threats stem from ongoing conflicts in Yemen as well as tensions between Iran and Western powers. Piracy and naval skirmishes have made the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Persian Gulf increasingly treacherous for commercial shipping in recent years. While these alternative routings may be a necessary short-term solution, maritime industry experts warn that the added complexity and delays could have broader impacts on global trade flows if the situation in the region does not stabilize soon.