Maritime transport and shipping prices have doubled amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to drive up the cost of imported production inputs by 5–15% and finished products by 10–50% in the local market, two sources confirmed to Al Manassa.
Ayman El-Sheikh, head of the International Transport Division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, said that maritime shipping prices have surged in recent weeks, bringing the total increase since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to between 200–400%.
El-Sheikh attributed the surge to spiking global fuel prices alongside new “war risk” and emergency surcharges. While these fees vary by carrier, container type, and route, some have hit an unprecedented $4,000 per container as escalating tensions block access to the strait.
He pointed out that some companies have imposed relatively lower emergency fees ranging from $160 to $400 per container, as shipping lines alter their routes away from tension zones, a shift that has driven up fuel consumption, transit times, and operating costs.
Demand has risen for transporting goods via the land-sea route between the Egyptian port of Safaga and the Saudi port of Duba since March, as exporters seek to avoid navigation risks coinciding with the escalation of the US-Israeli war against Iran, transport sector workers said in previous statements to Al Manassa.
A source in the Importers Division at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce warned that the crisis is pushing up local prices for various commodities and production inputs, compounding the pressure from rising global insurance, shipping, and energy costs.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al Manassa that imported finished goods will be hit the hardest, with prices expected to climb by 10–50%. Meanwhile, domestic industries relying on imported raw materials and production inputs face initial price increases of 5–15% if current conditions persist.
The source noted that the domestic price impact will not be immediate, as existing inventories and prior import contracts provide a temporary cushion for some companies. However, sustained increases in freight and insurance costs will likely force importers to reprice goods within the coming month.
Imports most vulnerable to these shipping disruptions encompass Egypt’s most critical supplies, the source added. These include fuel, grains, cooking oils, vehicles, consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and industrial inputs.
