Chinese shipping giant resumes bookings to Iraq and the Gulf despite tensions
Chinese shipping giant resumes bookings to Iraq and the Gulf despite tensions
2026-03-25 05:10
Shafaq News – Shanghai
China’s COSCO Shipping Lines announced on Wednesday that it has resumed accepting new bookings for general cargo containers bound for Iraq and the Gulf states, despite tensions in the Middle East.
The company stated in a memo to its clients that it “has resumed accepting new bookings for general cargo containers destined for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq,” adding that “new booking arrangements and actual transport operations are subject to change due to the volatile situation in the Middle East region.”
COSCO Shipping Lines is one of the world’s largest shipping companies, operating a huge fleet of container ships and serving hundreds of ports across international trade routes. It also plays a key role in global supply chains, making any change in its operations impactful on trade and shipping rates.
The Chinese company announced on March 4 that it was suspending all new bookings for routes to and from ports in the Middle East region, including ports in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The company attributed this move at the time to “the escalation of the conflict in the region and the imposition of restrictions on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
shafaq.com
