World’s Top Container Carriers Revise Sailings to Avoid Mideast

March 2, 2026, 6:43 PM UTC

The world’s biggest container shipping companies are revising their sailing schedules as the US and Israel’s war with Iran threatens to disrupt ocean freight in the Persian Gulf region — a vital supply-chain hub for dozens of big American and European manufacturers.

Some carriers are canceling bookings temporarily, skipping some port calls, warning of delays and implementing surcharges to transport containers through the conflict zone.

Here’s a rundown of the top six as of 4 p.m. London time on Monday:

MSC

The No. 1 container line said Sunday it’s suspending all bookings for global cargo to the Middle East “until ...

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