Ports across the Middle East, including Khor Fakkan and Jeddah, are imposing new congestion levies as delays, labour constraints, and landside challenges exacerbate supply chain disruptions, prompting carriers to pass increased costs onto shippers.
Pressure continues to build across Middle Eastern container gateways as carriers add new congestion levies and warning notices, with Khor Fakkan now joining Jeddah among the ports attracting punitive charges. Regional Container Lines said it would impose a $450 per container port congestion surcharge on import shipments bound for Khor Fakkan, citing waiting times of more than seven days and mounting operating costs. Live congestion data from Portcast also points to persistent delays at the UAE port, with a median vessel wait of 6.31 days.
The surcharge is the latest sign that shipping lines are struggling to keep services moving through a region where port capacity, yard space and landside evacuation are all under strain. Kuehne + Nagel said in a recent Middle East operational update that Sohar in Oman was facing berthing delays of seven to 14 days, while Khor Fakkan and Fujairah were also working at full stretch. Industry monitoring suggests that vessel bunching, labour constraints and terminal slowdowns are among the factors contributing to the backlog.
Jeddah remains another flashpoint. MSC has imposed a $500 per box surcharge on imports into the Saudi port, while Hapag-Lloyd said it would begin charging a $1,000 per container dangerous goods premium on hazardous cargo moving from Europe to Jeddah from 1 September until further notice. Turkon Line has also announced a congestion surcharge on shipments to the port, underscoring how widely the disruption has spread across carriers serving the Red Sea and Gulf trade lanes.
Hapag-Lloyd has gone further by telling customers they are responsible for customs clearance and onward movement once cargo lands in Jeddah. The carrier said any extra cost arising from delayed clearance, storage, terminal handling, customs formalities or relocation would fall on the shipper, and that future bookings would need a letter of indemnity or written confirmation that cargo would be moved on within 15 days of discharge. The move reflects the growing importance of landside capacity, especially truck availability, in determining whether containers can be evacuated quickly enough to prevent ports from seizing up.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [4]
– Paragraph 2: [2], [6]
– Paragraph 3: [3], [4]
– Paragraph 4: [3], [4], [7]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://theloadstar.com/pressure-and-surcharges-on-the-increase-across-middle-east-ports/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.portcast.io/port-congestion/khor-fakkan – Portcast provides live port congestion data for Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, reporting a high congestion index with a median vessel waiting time of 6.31 days. The data is updated weekly, offering insights into vessel wait times and congestion percentiles, which are crucial for understanding operational challenges at the port. Factors such as vessel bunching, weather disruptions, yard capacity limits, labor constraints, and terminal slowdowns are typically responsible for port congestion. This information is essential for stakeholders to plan and manage logistics effectively.
- https://turkon.com/en/announcements/port-congestion-surcharge-jeddah – Turkon Line has announced the implementation of a Port Congestion Surcharge for all shipments departing from Turkey and destined for Jeddah, effective from the vessel/voyage Martha A – 0TI3ZW1TK. The surcharge amounts are $150 per 20′ container and $300 per 40′ – 45′ container. This measure addresses the severe operational congestion affecting operations at the Port of Jeddah, aiming to mitigate the additional costs incurred due to prolonged vessel delays and berth waiting times.
- https://www.rclgroup.com/PressReleaseArticle/NEWS1336 – Regional Container Lines (RCL) has implemented a Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS) for all import shipments bound for Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. The surcharge is $450 per container and applies to all export origins into Khor Fakkan. This decision is in response to ongoing severe port congestion at Khor Fakkan, with vessel waiting times exceeding seven days, leading to significant extra operational costs and berth waiting times.
- https://www.portcast.io/port-congestion/jeddah – Portcast offers live port congestion data for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, reporting a low congestion index with a median vessel waiting time of 0.74 days. The data is updated weekly, providing insights into vessel wait times and congestion percentiles. This information is valuable for stakeholders to understand operational conditions at the port and plan logistics accordingly. Factors such as vessel bunching, weather disruptions, yard capacity limits, labor constraints, and terminal slowdowns can influence port congestion levels.
- https://www.downundervoices.com/story/rcl-introduces-congestion-surcharge-for-khor-fakkan-shipments-vdae8r – Regional Container Lines (RCL) has introduced a Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS) for all import shipments bound for Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. The surcharge is $450 per container and applies to all export origins into Khor Fakkan. This decision is in response to ongoing severe port congestion at Khor Fakkan, with vessel waiting times exceeding seven days, leading to significant extra operational costs and berth waiting times. The surcharge aims to mitigate these additional costs and maintain operational continuity across RCL’s liner services.
- https://www.pivotscl.com/blog/jeddah-port-congestion-2026 – Jeddah Islamic Port, the largest container terminal on the Red Sea and the entry point for roughly 60% of Saudi Arabia’s seaborne imports, is experiencing significant congestion through 2026. Vessel waiting times at berth have been running 7 to 14 days above pre-disruption baselines at peak periods, driven by a convergence of Red Sea rerouting, record import volumes, and infrastructure bottlenecks. This situation has led to delays and challenges for importers and freight forwarders operating through the port.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article was published on 24 August 2026, which is within the past week, indicating high freshness. The content references recent developments, such as Regional Container Lines (RCL) implementing a $450 per container surcharge for shipments to Khor Fakkan due to severe port congestion, with vessel waiting times exceeding seven days. This aligns with data from Portcast, which reports a median vessel wait time of 6.31 days at Khor Fakkan as of 23 August 2026. (portcast.io) Additionally, the article mentions Hapag-Lloyd’s $100 per box Emergency Operational Recovery Surcharge at Khor Fakkan, effective from 15 March 2026. (hapag-lloyd.com) While the surcharge was implemented earlier in the year, its inclusion in the article suggests an ongoing relevance to current port congestion issues. The article also discusses Hapag-Lloyd’s recent advisories regarding customs clearance and onward movement responsibilities for shipments to Jeddah, reflecting the evolving nature of port congestion challenges. Overall, the article provides timely information on the escalating pressures and surcharges at Middle East ports.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from RCL’s announcement regarding the implementation of the Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS) for shipments to Khor Fakkan. The exact wording of these quotes matches the information available in RCL’s press release dated 10 August 2026. (uat2-www.rclgroup.com) However, the article does not provide direct quotes from other sources, such as Hapag-Lloyd’s advisories or Kuehne + Nagel’s operational updates. Instead, it paraphrases information from these sources. While paraphrasing is acceptable, the lack of direct quotes from these sources makes it challenging to verify the exact wording and context of the statements. Therefore, the verification of these claims relies on the accuracy of the paraphrasing and the reliability of the original sources.
Source reliability
Score: 8
Notes: The article originates from The Loadstar, a reputable logistics and supply chain news outlet known for its in-depth coverage of industry developments. The sources cited within the article include official press releases from RCL and Hapag-Lloyd, as well as data from Portcast, a company specializing in port congestion analytics. These sources are considered reliable within the logistics industry. However, the article does not provide direct links to the original press releases or data sources, which would enhance transparency and allow for independent verification.
Plausibility check
Score: 9
Notes: The claims made in the article are plausible and consistent with known industry trends. Port congestion in Middle Eastern ports, particularly Khor Fakkan and Jeddah, has been a significant issue in recent months, leading to the implementation of various surcharges by shipping lines. The specific figures mentioned, such as RCL’s $450 per container surcharge and Hapag-Lloyd’s $100 per box surcharge, align with information from the respective companies’ official communications. The article also references data from Portcast, which reports a median vessel wait time of 6.31 days at Khor Fakkan as of 23 August 2026, supporting the claims of severe congestion. (portcast.io) Overall, the article presents information that is both plausible and supported by available data.