Supply chain planning across IMEA continues to be shaped by changing operating conditions in the Middle East and preparations for seasonal exports. In Africa, South African grape exports and Kenya's mango season are approaching, while increasing pulses shipments from Tanzania are driving demand for 20-foot containers.
For air freight, planned passenger service resumptions could add connections to the UAE from late October, although schedules remain subject to change. In Saudi Arabia, demand for warehousing and integrated logistics continues, while disruption affecting Gulf trade routes remains a consideration for supply chains serving the Eastern Region.
Customers are encouraged to share shipment forecasts with Maersk, cargo-ready dates and capacity requirements early, helping Maersk teams assess available options and align plans with delivery priorities.
The ongoing situation in the Middle East continues to influence cargo flows and supply chain planning across the region. Changes to shipping services, port conditions and inland connections may affect routing options, transit times and delivery arrangements. Maersk continues to assess alternative transport solutions to support cargo movements, subject to safety considerations, available capacity and applicable requirements.
Customers are encouraged to maintain flexibility in shipment planning, share delivery priorities early and stay in close contact with their Maersk representative. For the latest information on the situation visit our operational advisories page.
As the citrus season concludes, preparations are underway for South Africa's grape export season, with volumes expected to build from early November. Maersk will extend the WAF7 service during the season to support exporters, improving connectivity from the Northern Cape and access to the Gemini network.
The seasonal extension is intended to provide additional routing flexibility and support reliable connections to export markets during the peak period.
Grape exports are expected to drive strong reefer demand through quarter four. Customers are encouraged to share volume forecasts and equipment requirements with their Maersk customer service representative early so that container availability and vessel bookings can be aligned with harvest schedules.
Demand for tea, coffee, animal fodder and garments remains stable across the region. In Tanzania, pulses exports are gaining momentum following a slower start to the season, increasing demand for 20-foot containers as export activity builds.
In Kenya, avocado exports are winding down as exporters prepare for the mango season in November. Customers are encouraged to confirm bookings early and meet cargo cut-off deadlines to support loading on intended vessels.
Early alignment of forecasts and booking plans remains particularly important for shipments with fixed delivery deadlines and onward vessel connections.
UAE air hubs remain operational, but airline suspensions continue to affect available connections and cargo space. Published winter schedules indicate that some passenger services may return from late October; these should be treated as planned resumptions, with cargo availability confirmed at booking.
Lufthansa Group has announced a phased return to Dubai, starting with Munich on 25 October, Frankfurt on 26 October and Zurich on 27 October. Further services are planned from November and December. The group notes that regional volatility may require changes at short notice.
Other connections remain suspended for longer. Cathay Pacific has cancelled its Dubai and Riyadh passenger services through 31 January 2027, limiting the return of passenger belly capacity on those routes.
Existing regional airline and freighter services continue to support cargo movements. However, additional services do not necessarily replace the cargo capacity or connections available on suspended widebody passenger routes.
Customers with time-sensitive Europe–Gulf or intra-Gulf shipments should share cargo-ready dates and delivery priorities early with their Maersk representive. Confirm departures, onward connections and cargo acceptance before committing to delivery dates, and discuss alternative routing for shipments serving Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Capacity availability will remain an important planning consideration through quarter four. Planned airline returns may expand options on selected routes, but shipment plans should continue to be based on confirmed services and available cargo space.
Demand for warehousing, transportation, cold chain and integrated logistics remains strong in Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030 initiatives, expanding healthcare and technology sectors are supporting demand for scalable logistics solutions.
Customers are also looking to consolidate logistics activities to simplify operations, improve visibility, coordinate storage, transportation and distribution more closely.
At the same time, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect cargo flows and supply availability for supply chains serving the Eastern Region, including Dammam. This makes alignment between inbound transport, inventory requirements and warehouse capacity an important planning priority.
Maersk continues to invest in its Contract Logistics and integrated logistics capabilities across Saudi Arabia. Ongoing geopolitical disruption affecting Gulf trade routes is informing a cautious approach to additional cold store capacity in the Eastern Region.
Customers should review their warehousing and transportation requirements with Maersk, sharing expected volumes, temperature-control needs and growth plans early to assess suitable capacity and service options.
Demand for logistics services is expected to remain strong through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, supported by investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare and digital transformation. Early planning will help customers align logistics capacity with business growth while retaining flexibility as regional conditions evolve.
With changing routes, capacity constraints and seasonal export preparations shaping supply chain decisions, customers need to understand which developments could affect their cargo and delivery commitments. Earlier awareness can provide more time to review alternatives and coordinate a response.
Maersk Risk Management combines verified internal and external information with expert analysis to identify emerging risks and connect them to affected shipments and routes across air and ocean, including movements with other carriers. This helps customers assess their exposure and prioritise shipments requiring attention.
For businesses managing multiple providers or fixed delivery deadlines, this can support decisions about routing, inventory planning and customer communication. Customers considering the service should discuss their priority trade lanes and shipment-data requirements with their Maersk representative to assess how it could support their existing planning processes.
