Iran War Shipping Day 11

The Iran conflict entered its eleventh day on March 10, 2026, marked by extraordinary oil market volatility, diplomatic signals of potential de-escalation, and continued paralysis of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. For vehicle shippers and logistics planners, the conflicting signals create an unusually uncertain planning environment.

As we've covered since the conflict began in our Iran war shipping disruption analysis, the situation continues to evolve rapidly. Today's developments add new complexity: Trump administration statements suggesting the war could end "very soon" sent oil prices plunging, but carrier policies and maritime risk assessments remain unchanged.

Oil Markets Whipsaw on Mixed Signals

Oil prices experienced their most volatile 24-hour period of the conflict. According to Bloomberg, President Trump said he would waive oil-related sanctions, have the US Navy escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, and predicted the war with Iran would resolve "very soon."

The Washington Post reported that the price of Brent crude had spiked to nearly $120 per barrel Monday morning—a level that could translate into gas prices surpassing $4 per gallon nationally—before dropping below $90 by end of day as Trump suggested the war could end soon.

However, CNBC reported Tuesday morning that oil prices hovered around $90 per barrel after Saudi Arabia's Aramco warned the Iran war threatens "catastrophic consequences" for global energy markets the longer the conflict rages. Brent crude was down 7.1 percent at $91.94 per barrel as of early Tuesday trading.

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser told reporters: "There would be catastrophic consequences for the world's oil markets and the longer the disruption goes on, the more drastic the consequences for the global economy. While we have faced disruptions in the past, this one by far is the biggest crisis the region's oil and gas industry has faced."

Hormuz Remains Effectively Closed

Despite Trump's optimistic statements about the war's duration, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to Western-affiliated shipping.

According to Bloomberg's Hormuz tracker published today, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to almost all but Iran-linked traffic with the conflict now in its second week. Oil markets reacted to Trump's comment that the Iran war would resolve "very soon" with a sell-off that saw benchmark prices tumble over 10 percent. However, shippers—with people and vessels at risk—have taken a much more cautious approach.

Bloomberg also reported today that oil supply cuts in the Middle East are deepening, shaving about 6 percent off global output, as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz piles more pressure on producers with every day the Iran war continues. Production cuts are rippling across the Gulf even as Saudi Arabia and the UAE ramp up exports through alternative routes, with Saudi shipments through the Red Sea reaching a record this week.

Al Jazeera reported today that Iran has stopped tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz. Trump threatened on social media that "if Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far."

Biggest Oil Supply Disruption in History

CNBC reported that according to consulting firm Rapidan Energy, the US war against Iran has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history, more than double the previous record set during the Middle East crisis of the 1950s. About 20 percent of the world's oil supply has been disrupted for over ten days now as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill.

The big difference between the supply shock of the Iran war and past crises is the world has no spare oil capacity to address the problem. Saudi Arabia and the UAE hold the overwhelming majority of swing capacity but they have been cut off from the global oil market by the Hormuz closure.

G7 Energy Ministers to Meet on Strategic Reserves

CNBC reported that G7 energy ministers are set to hold a virtual meeting Tuesday to discuss a potential release of emergency oil reserves aimed at easing supply disruptions caused by the Iran war. The discussions follow a meeting of G7 finance ministers Monday where officials considered tapping strategic reserves but stopped short of reaching a decision.

According to sources, the US believes a joint release of between 300 million and 400 million barrels—roughly 25 to 30 percent of the group's combined 1.2 billion-barrel reserves—would be appropriate.

The Globe and Mail reported that global action to release strategic oil reserves could come as soon as Tuesday. The closure of the strait has triggered the biggest oil supply disruption in history, with about 20 percent of the world's oil consumption exported through the narrow waterway.

PBS reported that the G7 decided against using their strategic reserves on Monday, at least for now. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the group was "ready to take necessary and coordinated steps in order to stabilize markets, such as strategic stockpiling."

Strait of Hormuz Traffic Near Zero

According to Windward's March 9 maritime intelligence report, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reached its lowest level of the conflict, with only two outbound transits recorded and no inbound crossings observed. Both vessels were Iranian-flagged, reinforcing the assessment that international commercial traffic has effectively withdrawn from the waterway.

Wikipedia's article on the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, compiled from multiple news sources, notes that crude oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel on March 8 for the first time in four years. Shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz dropped 95 percent in the first week of March, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence cited by NBC News.

NPR reported that Iran achieved the effective closure not with a naval blockade but with cheap drones. Insurers wouldn't underwrite ships, and companies wouldn't risk the passage without coverage. "It's really an insurance-driven shutdown," according to analyst Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets.

Container Shipping Status Unchanged

While oil market participants are reacting to Trump's comments with price volatility, container shipping carriers have maintained their operational restrictions.

According to the WCS shipping update from March 6, Maersk's FM1 (Far East to Middle East) and ME11 (Middle East to Europe) services remain suspended. Hapag-Lloyd has halted all transits through the Strait of Hormuz and suspended bookings to and from the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman (Sohar), and Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail). MSC's "End of Voyage" declaration for all containerized cargo destined for ports inside the Arabian Gulf remains in effect.

The Maritime Executive reported that some estimates place stranded container volumes as high as 250,000 TEU or more across the region. Hapag alone has cited 50,000 TEU as being impacted.

Port Operations Continue Under Heightened Security

DP World confirmed that normal operations have resumed across Terminals 1 to 4 at Jebel Ali Port as of March 1. However, enhanced safety and security measures remain in place.

Gulf News reported that all terminals in Dubai are functioning normally, with enhanced safety measures in place as authorities continue to monitor developments closely. The port handles more than 15 million TEU annually and serves as a critical trade gateway linking Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The paradox is clear: while the port itself is operational, commercial shipping cannot reach it because all major carriers have suspended Hormuz transits.

Regional Logistics Strain Growing

Windward's March 9 report documented growing operational stress across regional logistics infrastructure, with rising exception activity across Gulf ports:

• Jebel Ali (UAE): 10 transshipment delay cases, up 233 percent day-on-day
• Dammam (Saudi Arabia): 5 transshipment delay cases, up 400 percent day-on-day
• Shuwaikh (Kuwait): 4 late departure cases
• Umm Qasr (Iraq): 2 transshipment delay cases

The collapse in Hormuz-linked shipping is now directly affecting Iraqi oil production and export capacity. Iraqi authorities reportedly recorded zero oil and commercial vessel entries into Iraqi ports following the effective closure of the Strait. Production from southern Iraqi fields reportedly fell by 70 percent to approximately 1.3 million barrels per day.

War Risk Surcharges Remain in Effect

All emergency surcharges implemented during the first week remain active:

• CMA CGM Emergency Conflict Surcharge: $2,000 per 20-foot container, $3,000 per 40-foot container, $4,000 for reefer and special equipment
• Hapag-Lloyd War Risk Surcharge: $1,500 per TEU standard, $3,500 per TEU for reefer and special containers
• MSC War Risk Surcharge: $2,000 per TEU for cargo from Arabian Peninsula to Africa and Indian Ocean islands
• Maersk Emergency Contingency Surcharge: Up to $3,300 per TEU for cargo from Oman, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to Latin America and Caribbean

What This Means for Vehicle Shippers

The mixed signals from Washington create a challenging planning environment. While oil traders are betting on a rapid resolution, shipping carriers and maritime insurers are maintaining their restrictive postures. This disconnect matters because:

Port operations don't equal shipping access. Jebel Ali may be operational, but if your container cannot transit the Strait of Hormuz because all major carriers have suspended service, the port's operational status is irrelevant to your shipment.

Oil price drops don't mean shipping resumes. Oil futures traders can react to presidential tweets in seconds. Shipping carriers, which must consider crew safety, vessel insurance, and long-term customer relationships, move more slowly and cautiously.

"Very soon" is not a timeline. When asked whether the war would be over this week, Trump said "No, but soon. Very soon." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would be "our most intense day of strikes." These conflicting signals provide no basis for logistics planning.

For vehicle shipments destined for Persian Gulf ports, all major Western-affiliated carriers have suspended service indefinitely. Even if the conflict ends this week, restarting commercial shipping through the Strait will require:

1. IRGC announcement that the strait is open to all traffic

2. Maritime insurers restoring war-risk coverage at commercially viable rates

3. Carriers conducting operational assessments and repositioning vessels

4. Gradual ramp-up of bookings and sailings

This process could take weeks even under optimistic scenarios.

Practical Steps for Vehicle Shippers

Do not make shipping decisions based on oil price movements or political statements. Wait for concrete announcements from shipping carriers about service resumption.

Contact your shipping provider directly to confirm the current status of any bookings or cargo in transit. Understand whether your cargo has been affected by an "End of Voyage" declaration.

Understand your exposure to demurrage and detention charges if your container is stranded at an intermediate port. These fees can accumulate at approximately $150 per day per container.

Evaluate alternative routing options if your destination is inside the Persian Gulf. Overland transportation from nearby ports such as Aqaba (Jordan) or Sohar (Oman) may be the only viable path until maritime access resumes.

Build contingency timelines that assume disruption continues through at least the end of March and possibly longer. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Disclaimer: This article is provided by West Coast Shipping as general informational content based on publicly available reporting as of March 10, 2026. The situation in the Middle East is developing rapidly and details may change. This is not legal, financial, or customs advice. All shipping routes, carrier policies, port statuses, and cost figures referenced are illustrative and based on publicly available information at the time of writing. Actual conditions, rates, and timelines may differ. Before making any shipping decisions, contact your logistics provider directly for the most current information.

Calculate Your International Car Shipping Costs

If you are planning to ship a vehicle internationally during this period of disruption, West Coast Shipping can help you understand routing options and realistic timelines. Use our shipping calculator to get a quote, or contact our team directly for guidance on navigating current conditions.