05 March 2026 11:50

Messages to employees at DTU

Freight to and from the Middle East: Delays and War Risk Surcharges

Air and sea freight are affected by the situation in the Middle East. This may result in longer transit times, capacity constraints and additional costs for your shipments.

The current situation in the Middle East is impacting DSV’s air and sea transport operations in the region. Several flight routes have been rerouted or cancelled, and vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been suspended. This is leading to longer transit times and a risk of delays – including for goods already in transit. At the same time, capacity is under pressure, particularly between the Far East and Europe, which may affect freight rates.

For sea freight, shipping lines have introduced a War Risk Surcharge effective from 2 March 2026.

Indicative levels:

  • USD 2,000 per 20’ dry container
  • USD 3,000 per 40’ dry container
  • USD 4,000 per reefer/special equipment container

The surcharge applies to shipments via DSV to and from:
Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt (Ain Sokhna), Djibouti, Sudan and Eritrea.

In addition, several shipping lines have temporarily suspended new bookings to and from the affected area.

What this means for you if you send or receive goods:

  • Expect longer transit times
  • Book as early as possible
  • Factor in the risk of additional surcharges
  • Allow for uncertainty in warehouse and project planning

For further information or support regarding shipments, please contact DTU’s local DSV contact person, Lars Hansen, at lha@adm.dtu.dk.

You can read more on DSV’s website here.