Hapag-Lloyd faces extra costs of up to $50 million a week due to ships stranded in the Persian Gulf

The German shipping giant Lloyd’s table is facing a significant financial hit amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to the CEO Rolf Habben Jansenadditional costs for ships stranded in the Persian Gulf already range between US$40 million and US$50 million per week.

The crisis is directly linked to the worsening of the conflict involving USA, Israel e Iranwhich resulted in the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuzone of the main routes for global oil and cargo trade.

According to Jansen, six of the company’s vessels have remained trapped in the region since the end of February, with around 150 crew members on board. Despite the critical situation, the executive assured that the teams are being supplied with food and water, while negotiations continue to release the ships.

To mitigate losses, the company has been adopting operational measures, including taking advantage of logistical synergies with Maerskone of its main partners in the sector.

Even with the adverse scenario, Hapag-Lloyd reported that, so far, the extra costs and loss of revenue have not yet compromised the financial projections for the 2026 fiscal year. The CEO demonstrated confidence in the company’s ability to absorb impacts in the short term, but warned about future risks.

“This situation is unsustainable in the long term,” said Jansen, highlighting that the continuation of the conflict could directly affect global demand for maritime transport, further increasing the challenges for the sector.

The case highlights how geopolitical crises can directly impact international logistics, putting pressure on operational costs and bringing uncertainty to supply chains on a global scale.