Middle East crisis shifts maritime traffic to African coasts

Shipping activity near the Cape of Good Hope has increased by 35%, as carriers avoid the Strait of Hormuz

Merchant ship traffic near South Africa has surged as global shipping routes shift. The change comes as vessels avoid the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. 

Traffic near the Cape of Good Hope has risen by about 35%. According to platform MarineTraffic cited by Anadolu news agency, around 94 vessels per day are now passing the southern tip of Africa. At the same time, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply. 

Data from the maritime tracking company shows that only four ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on March 3, compared with a normal daily average of about 138 vessels. Oil tanker traffic through the waterway has dropped by roughly 90% compared with previous levels.  

International carriers such as Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and Maersk have suspended some routes and are instead sending ships around Africa.  

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On Monday, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was stopped after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on February 28, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official stated.  

“If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” warned Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief. 

Traders in South Africa are already speaking of knock‑on effects from the disruptions. Exporters Western Cape, a trade organization, said rising fuel costs and shipping delays linked to the fighting are creating uncertainty for trade with Gulf markets, including fresh produce shipments that typically move through maritime corridors connected to the strait.  

READ MORE: Middle East tension threatens South African exports – trade organization

“The Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints – handles roughly 20% of global oil supply and is a key route for trade moving in and out of the Gulf region,” said Terry Gale, the chair of the organization. He cautioned that suspended shipping services and airspace restrictions are driving up freight costs and complicating supply chains.