Freight charges serving the UAE and other Gulf markets could rise further during the coming months as container shortages and continuing shipping disruption restrict capacity.
Traders said some shipments that previously cost between $1,000 and $2,000 now attract quotations of approximately $10,000 to $12,000. One estimate placed the possible future cost as high as $15,000, although forecasts vary according to the route, fuel price and available capacity.
Delivery periods that previously averaged 25 to 30 days have reportedly extended to between 60 and 90 days on some routes. War-related surcharges and higher raw-material prices are adding to importers’ landed costs.
Indicative quotations for a 40-foot high-cube container have risen from about $2,000 to between $7,000 and $11,000. Spread across the contents of a container, the increase could add approximately $5 to $9 to the cost of each saleable item.
Importers have also been advised to consider Chinese factory closures during the Mid-Autumn holiday from 25 to 27 September and the National Day break from 1 to 7 October. Missing scheduled sailings could delay Christmas and year-end deliveries.