On March 6, representatives of Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority said: To grasp the impacts of businesses due to the conflict situation in the Middle East region, Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority issued Document No. 415/CVHHHP-TTTT dated March 4, 2026 on ensuring maritime safety and maritime security for ships and crew members operating in the Middle East region, Document No. 416/CVHHHP-TTTT dated March 4, 2026 on coordinating to provide ship information traveling through the Middle East region to sea transport enterprises; Vietnam Ship Owners Association; Vietnam Association of Agents, Brokers and Maritime Services; Vietnam Logistics Business Association; crew supply companies; ship captains.
As of March 5, the Shipbuilding Procedures Department has contacted 19 shipping lines, 38 port enterprises, and shipping agents. Summary of information about the impact of the conflict in the Middle East region as follows:
Shipbuilding companies have announced the temporary suspension of receiving orders to and from the Middle East region. For orders that are on ships to the Middle East region, they will change direction, unload goods at another suitable port and all related costs are borne by customers. For orders that are on their way through the Middle East region to other areas, they will change direction and the shipping company will collect additional fees.
MSC operates about 20 containers/month, CMA CGM operates about 40 containers/week through the Hai Phong seaport area, so it does not affect the operation of the port and shipping lines, other companies do not have specific information but there is preliminary information that it has not been affected.
Also according to the Hai Phong Maritime Administration, some Vietnamese shipping lines such as Vosco, Hai An, Binh Minh, Vinaship are not affected. Port enterprises report not being affected by conflicts in the Middle East region.
Previously, on March 4, Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority also sent an official letter to Ship Owners Associations, agents, logistics enterprises, ship owners, crew supply companies, sea transport enterprises... recommending ensuring maritime safety and maritime security for ships and crew members operating in the Middle East region.
Mr. Bui Thanh Binh, General Secretary of the Hai Phong Logistics Association (HPLA), said: The tense situation taking place in the Middle East is also new, but has greatly affected logistics transport enterprises, especially the sea and maritime sectors.
According to Mr. Binh, shipping lines have now avoided the route to pass through the Middle East. Many major shipping lines in the world have announced schedule changes, no longer passing through the Suez Canal, but going around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). Thus, the schedule will take 10 - 14 days to reach European ports and vice versa; This increases fuel costs and time; Especially, when the Hamburg Strait is banned, fuel prices will increase. Currently, shipping lines are stirring to increase transportation prices both by air and sea.
Hai Phong has more than 300 businesses operating in the logistics sector and thousands of other logistics businesses nationwide also operating in the city. Major shipping lines in the world present in Vietnam all have branches in Hai Phong. The proportion of goods through Hai Phong Port area exported to Europe and America is very large, accounting for a large proportion, so the war situation in the Middle East has greatly affected businesses.
According to a report by Hai Phong City People's Committee, the volume of goods through ports in February 2026 is estimated at 12.97 million tons, an increase of 11.15% compared to the same period last year. In general, in the first 2 months of 2026, it is estimated at 27.08 million tons, an increase of 10.54% compared to the same period last year. Total import turnover in the first 2 months of 2026 reached 9.88 billion USD, exceeding the Q1 plan target in the 2026 growth scenario.
