Recent weeks have seen a continuous rise in shipping costs on Middle East routes, pushed higher by shifting regional dynamics and extreme weather tied to the El Ni帽o phenomenon. The situation has become so acute that freight charges in some cases now exceed the value of the goods being transported.

Since late July, prices for Middle East container shipping have jumped sharply. For instance, the rate for a 40-foot standard container from Shanghai Port to Dammam Port has surged past the $10,000 mark, climbing from around $6,600 and marking an increase of more than 50%.

According to executives at freight forwarding companies, securing a slot on Middle East routes has become extremely challenging, with bookings often facing delays or cancellations for various reasons.