Hormuz Blockade and Houthi Resumption Close Both Middle East Chokepoints to Container Shipping

For the first time in container shipping’s history, both of the Middle East’s critical maritime chokepoints are effectively closed to commercial traffic. The Strait of Hormuz — the sole sea passage connecting the Persian Gulf to open ocean — is under de facto blockade following US and Israeli military strikes against Iran on 28 February. Simultaneously, Houthi forces have announced the resumption of Red Sea attacks in solidarity with Tehran, according to the Associated Press, citing two senior rebel officials who said the first strike could come within hours.

The announcement reverses the ceasefire that had held since a deal with the Trump administration in early 2025, and shatters the cautious Suez Canal returns that CMA CGM, Maersk and others had tested in December and January. The immediate consequence is that Jebel Ali — DP World’s 15.5 million TEU flagship hub and the Middle East’s primary container transshipment node — is cut off from global ocean trade. DP World has now suspended operations at all Jebel Ali terminals as a precautionary measure, according to a customer notice seen by Bloomberg.

Customs processes between the Jebel Ali Free Zone and the UAE mainland have also been temporarily suspended. Unlike the Red Sea, where Cape of Good Hope routing offered a costly but functional alternative, there is no maritime workaround when the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand confirmed the scale of the problem, stating there is no viable alternative to getting containers in or out of Gulf ports by ocean.