CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping line, has suspended dangerous goods transport to 13 Middle Eastern countries effective March 2026, citing operational stability concerns amid the escalating Iran conflict, according to CMA CGM's official customer advisory. For DG shippers affected by these restrictions, our dangerous goods freight services offer alternative routing through neutral transit hubs. Maersk and MSC have taken similar measures, halting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global maritime trade.
The impact on DG shippers
The suspension directly affects shippers moving DG cargo, particularly chemicals, industrial products, and energy-related equipment, to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Iraq, and surrounding markets. The immediate consequences:
- Fewer carrier options. With three major lines restricting DG bookings, remaining carriers can command premium rates for the limited DG slots they offer.
- Longer transit times. DG cargo that previously moved on direct services now requires transshipment, adding 7–14 days to delivery timelines and increasing handling risk.
- Stricter documentation. Carriers still accepting DG bookings are imposing additional documentation requirements and higher insurance minimums.
Alternative corridors: the Qingdao transit model
For DG shippers needing to reach markets affected by carrier suspensions, alternative routing through neutral transit hubs is becoming the practical solution. Qingdao, with its bonded logistics zone, DG-certified warehousing, and connections to both the China-Europe rail network and secondary ocean carriers, can serve as a consolidation and re-routing point for DG cargo that would otherwise be blocked at origin.
This is the same bonded transit model that Great Hensen has operated for four years on the Japan/Korea–Russia corridor: cargo enters the bonded zone without triggering Chinese import duties, is consolidated or split as needed, and forwarded under a new bill of lading to the final destination via carriers still serving the target market.
Related: DG Freight from China → | Northeast Asia Bonded Transit Hub →
Broader Carrier DG Policy Trends
The CMA CGM suspension reflects a wider industry trend. In the past 18 months, at least four major container lines have tightened DG acceptance policies, increasing surcharges or restricting class combinations on specific routes, as tracked by IMO Maritime Safety Committee reports and carrier tariff filings. The drivers: insurance cost escalation (a single container fire can trigger claims exceeding $100 million) and vessel capacity optimization (carriers generate higher revenue per slot from non-DG cargo without the additional risk). For DG shippers, this environment demands a proactive multi-carrier, multi-port strategy with forwarder partnerships that provide early warning of carrier policy changes before they disrupt booked shipments.