Container shipping groups A.P. Moller-Maersk MAERSK.B -3.07%decrease; red down pointing triangle and Hapag-Lloyd HLAG -1.00%decrease; red down pointing triangle suspended key shipping routes into and out of the Middle East as the fallout from the war in the region continues to disrupt trade flows.
Maersk said Friday that it suspended shipping routes connecting the Middle East with Europe and the Far East as well as its Gulf shuttle services.
“Following our latest risk assessment and operational review and considering the escalating conflict affecting safe navigation in the Gulf region, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend the FM1 service (connecting Far East to Middle East) and as well the ME11 service (connecting Middle East to Europe),” it said.
The Danish shipping group also said that the ME1 service connecting the Middle East to Northern Europe will drop its call in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.