Monday, 2 March 2026

Dear Valued Customer,

We are issuing this Global Customer Advisory to update you on the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East and its immediate and near-term ripple effects on global supply chains across all major trade lanes.

What began as regional disruption is already extending beyond the Middle East and is intensifying globally, impacting capacity, congestion, transit times, and logistics costs worldwide.

1. Shipping Lane Closures – Global Maritime Impact

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors for energy and commercial cargo, has been declared closed to vessel traffic following escalating military activity in the region.

In parallel with Persian Gulf disruptions, heightened security risks associated with the conflict have materially impacted the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Suez Canal corridor. Multiple ocean carriers have suspended or limited transit through these waterways and are rerouting affected services via the Cape of Good Hope.

These actions are extending transit times, reducing effective vessel and equipment capacity, and triggering additional operational costs.

As a direct result, major ocean carriers have suspended or rerouted vessels, and feeder services into the Gulf are being reduced. These developments are expected to create further ripple effects across non-Gulf trade lanes.

2. Airspace Restrictions – Global Airfreight Consequences

Widespread airspace restrictions across parts of the Middle East are severely impacting global airfreight flows, reducing capacity, increasing transit times, and adding volatility to pricing and service reliability.

3. Port Congestion – Immediate and Near-Future Ripple Effects

Near-term congestion is expected at Gulf ports. In addition, increased transshipment pressure is anticipated at Asian hubs such as Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, and Port Klang. As uncertainty around final delivery grows, carriers may temporarily cease loading Gulf-destined cargo, creating bottlenecks with global knock-on effects.

4. Increased Rates & Surcharges

Airlines and Shipping lines have begun announcing conflict-related rate increases and surcharges due to the high intensity Military Conflict and Combat Operations in the Middle East, including war risk and congestion surcharges (e.g., in the form of Peak Season Surcharges or War Risk Surcharges). Furthermore, due to the rise in oil prices, the short-term introduction of (Emergency) Bunker Surcharges and (Emergency) Fuel Surcharges must be expected. This will foreseeably also apply to your shipments to regions other than the Middle East/Persian Gulf, as the increase in oil prices affects overall fuel costs, regardless of the trade lane.

5. Expected Impact on Your Supply Chain

Customers should prepare for extended storage and transit times, rate increases and additional surcharges, congestion beyond the Middle East, reduced capacity and schedule reliability, rerouting, port omissions, booking restrictions, as well as increased planning complexity.

6. JAS Mitigation Measures

JAS is coordinating closely with carriers, identifying alternative routings, monitoring congestion risks, enhancing shipment visibility, and prioritizing critical cargo.

We strongly recommend remaining in close and regular contact with your JAS account representative to review shipment-specific risks, mitigation strategies, and contingency options.

This situation remains fluid. JAS will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as conditions evolve. Your supply chain continuity remains our top priority.

Yours sincerely,

JAS Worldwide Management

Sunday, 1 March 2026

Dear Valued Customer,

We are issuing this Global Customer Advisory to update you on the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East and its immediate and near-term ripple effects on global supply chains across all major trade lanes.

What began as a regional disruption is already extending beyond the Middle East and is intensifying globally , impacting capacity, congestion, transit times, and logistics costs worldwide.

1. Shipping Lane Closures – Global Maritime Impact

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors for energy and commercial cargo, has been declared closed to vessel traffic following escalating military activity in the region.

In parallel with Persian Gulf disruptions, heightened security risks associated with the conflict have materially impacted the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Suez Canal corridor. Multiple ocean carriers have suspended or limited transit through these waterways and are rerouting affected services via the Cape of Good Hope.

These actions are extending transit times, reducing effective vessel and equipment capacity, and triggering additional operational costs.

As a direct result, major ocean carriers have suspended or rerouted vessels, feeder services into the Gulf are being reduced. These developments are expected to create further ripple effects across non-Gulf trade lanes in the near future.

2. Airspace Restrictions – Global Airfreight Consequences

Widespread airspace restrictions across parts of the Middle East are severely impacting global airfreight flows, reducing capacity, increasing transit times, and adding volatility to pricing and service reliability.

3. Port Congestion – Immediate and Near-Future Ripple Effects

Near-term congestion is expected at Gulf ports. In addition, increased transshipment pressure is anticipated at Asian hubs such as Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, and Port Klang. As uncertainty around final delivery grows, carriers may temporarily cease loading Gulf-destined cargo, creating bottlenecks with global knock-on effects.

4. Increased Rates & Surcharges

Airlines and Shipping lines have begun announcing conflict-related rate increases and surcharges due to the high intensity Military Conflict and Combat Operations in the Middle East, including war risk and congestion surcharges (e.g., in the form of Peak Season Surcharges or War Risk Surcharges). Furthermore, due to the rise in oil prices, the short-term introduction of (Emergency) Bunker Surcharges and (Emergency) Fuel Surcharges must be expected. This will foreseeably also apply to your shipments to regions other than the Middle East/Persian Gulf, as the increase in oil prices affects overall fuel costs, regardless of the trade lane.

5. Expected Impact on Your Supply Chain

Customers should prepare for extended storage and transit times, rate increases and additional surcharges, congestion beyond the Middle East, reduced capacity and schedule reliability, rerouting, port omissions, booking restrictions, as well as increased planning complexity.

6. JAS Mitigation Measures

JAS is coordinating closely with carriers, identifying alternative routings, monitoring congestion risks, enhancing shipment visibility, and prioritizing critical cargo.

We strongly recommend remaining in close and regular contact with your JAS account representative to review shipment-specific risks, mitigation strategies, and contingency options.

This situation remains fluid. JAS will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as conditions evolve. Your supply chain continuity remains our top priority.

Yours sincerely,

JAS Worldwide Management