Are Today’s High Shipping Rates Temporary, or Will They Continue? A 2026 Maritime Expert’s Outlook for Vehicle Importers Shipping to Oman, the UAE, Jordan, and Iraq

By Abu Naif – Maritime Shipping Expert at VERO SHIPPING One of the most common questions I receive from vehicle dealers and importers in 2026 is simple but extremely important: Are the current shipping rate increases temporary, or should importers expect them to continue in Oman, the UAE, Jordan, and Iraq? As someone who has worked closely with international vehicle shipping, ports, shipping lines, auctions, inland transportation companies, and importers across the Middle East, my honest answer is this: Some of the current charges may eventually decrease, but shipping prices are unlikely to return immediately to their previous levels. The shipping market is currently affected by more than one issue. Freight rates are not rising because of a single temporary surcharge. They are being influenced by maritime security risks, war-risk insurance, fuel prices, limited vessel capacity, operational delays, port congestion, route changes, and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and other important shipping corridors. Why Have Shipping Rates Increased in 2026? The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime passages. Any security incident, threat, restriction, or reduction in vessel movements through this area creates immediate concern among shipping companies and maritime insurers. In July 2026, commercial vessel activity through the Strait declined sharply as regional tensions increased. Some vessels reportedly stopped, changed direction, or delayed their passage while operators assessed the security situation. This type of uncertainty affects the entire shipping chain, even when a customer’s own container is not directly involved in an incident. (⁠Reuters) When the risk level rises, shipping lines must consider: * Additional maritime insurance * War-risk premiums * Higher fuel and operating expenses * Security measures for ships and crews * Possible waiting time outside ports * Changes to vessel rotations * Emergency storage and transshipment costs * Reduced availability of vessels and containers These expenses are normally passed down through the shipping chain and eventually become part of the rate paid by the importer. Maersk, for example, introduced emergency freight increases affecting shipments connected to the UAE, Oman, Iraq and other Gulf destinations following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Its operational notices also referred to possible storage costs and contingency arrangements when cargo could not continue to its original destination as planned. (⁠maersk.com) Will Shipping Rates to the UAE Remain High? The UAE depends heavily on international maritime trade, with major ports such as Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port, Khorfakkan, Sharjah and Ajman serving local and regional customers. Shipments arriving at ports inside the Arabian Gulf may be more directly exposed to changes affecting the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, shipping lines can add emergency freight increases, war-risk charges, fuel surcharges or operational fees. However, the UAE has a highly developed logistics sector, strong port infrastructure and several shipping alternatives. This helps reduce the possibility of a complete interruption. My expectation is that rates to the UAE will remain changeable in the short term. If the security situation stabilizes and vessels are able to transit consistently, some emergency charges could be reduced. Nevertheless, insurers and shipping lines will usually wait for a sustained period of safe operations before removing risk-related pricing. Importers should therefore avoid assuming that one week of calm will immediately return rates to their old levels. What About Shipping Rates to Sohar and Salalah in Oman? Oman has a special geographical advantage because its major ports do not all have the same level of exposure. Sohar Port is positioned near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and is closely connected to Gulf shipping services. Disruptions affecting vessel movements through or near the Strait may therefore influence Sohar schedules, rates and available capacity. Salalah Port, on the other hand, is located farther south on the Arabian Sea. It can provide an important alternative for some international shipping routes, especially when Gulf services face delays or uncertainty. This does not automatically mean that Salalah will always be cheaper. A container discharged in Salalah may require additional inland transportation, transshipment or customs planning depending on the final destination. The correct choice between Sohar and Salalah should be based on the total cost, including: * Ocean freight * Port charges * Customs clearance * Inland delivery * Possible storage * Transit time * Availability of direct or connecting services At VERO SHIPPING, we do not judge a shipment only by the lowest ocean freight quotation. We examine the complete route and the customer’s final delivery requirements. Will Jordan Shipping Rates Continue to Rise? Jordan is in a different position because most vehicle cargo enters through the Port of Aqaba. Aqaba is outside the Strait of Hormuz, but that does not mean Jordan is fully protected from wider regional shipping disruptions. Services to Aqaba may still be affected by Red Sea security conditions, vessel rerouting, insurance costs, fuel prices and changes around the Bab el-Mandeb route. If shipping lines alter their Red Sea services or reduce capacity, freight rates to Aqaba can increase even if the container never passes through Hormuz. Therefore, Jordanian vehicle importers should watch not only the Strait of Hormuz but also developments affecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. What Should Iraqi Vehicle Importers Expect? Iraq can receive cargo through different routes, including southern ports such as Umm Qasr, regional Gulf hubs and land connections through neighboring countries. Cargo moving to southern Iraq is generally more exposed to Gulf maritime conditions. Any disruption involving the Strait of Hormuz can affect vessel schedules, feeder services, transshipment arrangements and equipment availability. In July 2026, operations at the Basra oil terminal were reportedly interrupted briefly before resuming, demonstrating how quickly regional events can affect maritime operations. (⁠Reuters) For vehicle importers, delays can become particularly expensive because they may lead to storage, demurrage, customs complications and late delivery to buyers. The best solution is not simply to wait for prices to decrease. Importers should plan bookings carefully, maintain flexibility in destination ports and work with a company that can evaluate more than one route. Are War-Risk Charges Temporary? War-risk charges are designed to respond to extraordinary security conditions, so technically they are not permanent standard charges. However, they may remain in place longer than importers expect. Insurance costs increased significantly during the 2026 crisis. Although some war-risk premiums later declined from their highest levels, they remained well above normal historical pricing. Insurers generally require repeated safe voyages and a sustained reduction in risk before returning to ordinary terms. (⁠Financial Times) This means a ceasefire announcement or temporary improvement may lower rates, but it may not eliminate all additional charges immediately. How VERO SHIPPING Helps Importers During Unstable Markets During uncertain shipping periods, the cheapest quotation is not always the safest or most economical option. A low initial rate can become expensive if the shipment faces long delays, unexpected transshipment, storage charges or poor communication. VERO SHIPPING supports vehicle dealers and importers by: * Reviewing available shipping lines and sailing schedules * Comparing destination options * Coordinating vehicle pickup from Copart and IAAI * Arranging inland transportation in the United States * Consolidating vehicles inside containers * Monitoring container movements * Informing customers about operational changes * Evaluating alternative ports when necessary * Helping customers reduce avoidable storage and delay costs Our approach is based on practical shipping experience. We do not promise that international freight markets will remain stable, because no shipping company can control geopolitical events, insurance markets or shipping-line decisions. What we can do is monitor developments, explain the real risks and provide customers with the strongest available shipping plan. Final Outlook from Abu Naif In my professional opinion, current shipping rates contain both temporary and longer-term components. Emergency and war-risk surcharges may decrease when security improves. However, fuel costs, insurance caution, vessel shortages and operational disruption may keep overall freight prices above their previous levels for some time. Importers in Oman, the UAE, Jordan and Iraq should not stop their businesses completely while waiting for the perfect rate. Instead, they should calculate the full landed cost, compare available routes and avoid making decisions based only on the cheapest quotation. The most successful vehicle traders are not always those who receive the lowest shipping price. They are the traders who understand market conditions, move at the right time and work with an experienced shipping partner capable of responding when the route changes. ⸻ Ready to Ship Your Vehicles with Confidence? Whether you are importing one vehicle or managing regular container shipments, VERO SHIPPING is committed to providing reliable international shipping solutions backed by years of experience in the automotive logistics industry. Our team assists vehicle dealers, exporters, importers, and businesses with professional shipping services from the United States, the UAE, and Oman to destinations worldwide. Contact VERO SHIPPING 🌐 Website: https://www.veroshipping.com 📧 Sales Email: salesuae@veroshipping.net 📞 UAE Office +971 54 777 2981 +971 54 777 2985 📞 USA Office +1 (201) 683-3996 +1 (305) 224-0406 ⸻ Our Shipping Services * Car Shipping from the USA * Container Shipping * RoRo Shipping * Vehicle Export Services * Copart & IAAI Shipping * Auto Transport * Customs Clearance * Freight Forwarding * International Vehicle Logistics * Car Shipping to Oman * Car Shipping to UAE * Car Shipping to Jordan * Car Shipping to Iraq * Shipping to Sohar Port * Shipping to Salalah Port * Shipping to Jebel Ali Port * Shipping to Aqaba Port * Worldwide Vehicle Shipping VERO SHIPPING proudly serves vehicle dealers, importers, exporters, and businesses looking for dependable, transparent, and professional international shipping solutions. By Abu Naif Maritime Shipping Expert VERO SHIPPING