With the rising risks in the Gulf region, a significant amount of cargo originally destined for the Strait of Hormuz has shifted to the Port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's largest port, before being transported via land bridges to Gulf countries. Hapag-Lloyd has suspended cross-border truck transport services from Jeddah to northern Gulf countries, while Maersk has rerouted some cargo through Houari Fucail and Salalah, implementing a special free container storage period of up to 15 days for eligible containers. The operational efficiency of core European ports has declined, with the Port of Rotterdam suffering from extreme heat that reduced dockside productivity, while the Port of Antwerp faces severe pilot shortages and strikes. U.S. ports continue to experience weak import demand, prompting the South Carolina Ports Authority to announce the suspension of container operations at the Port of Charleston's H. K. Leithem Terminal starting August 1, 2026, consolidating them to the Wando Welch Terminal and North Charleston Terminal.
