Conflicts in Iran along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and tensions in the Red Sea are significantly changing global sea transport routes, making Africa a new important transit point for goods circulation.
According to maritime and logistics sources, about 70% of the cargo volume that once passed through the Red Sea has been redirected to the Cape of Good Hope in southern South Africa. The volume of commercial ships through this route has more than tripled in three years, while operations through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have halved.
Avoiding the Red Sea route has become more common in the context of the Iranian conflict. Ships are currently moving along the east coast of Africa before returning to Europe and the Mediterranean.
The disruption also promoted the formation of alternative transport corridors. Saudi Arabia's Jeddah port emerged as a new transshipment hub, where goods were transported by ship through the Suez Canal, then by road to points such as Sharjah, Bahrain and Kuwait. However, overloaded conditions appeared, with departure waiting times significantly increased.
Some ports outside the Strait of Hormuz such as Sohar in Oman or Khorfakkan and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates are also used, connected by road to maintain the flow of goods. The port of Aqaba in Jordan has become a transit point for goods to Iraq, while a corridor through Turkey supports transportation to the north of the country.
The change in routes has caused the transportation time between Asia and Europe to last an average of two weeks, while costs have increased due to higher fuel consumption and the need for more trains to maintain frequency. The price of 40-foot container transportation increased by 14% compared to the same period last year.
Some African ports recorded increased activity, while Egypt suffered heavy losses as revenue from the Suez Canal fell sharply, losing $7 billion in 2024.
