# Shipping disrupted in the Middle East | World Grain

> Shipping in the Middle East has been disrupted after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Multiple commercial ships were struck near the Strait of Hormuz, and JMIC raised the security posture to critical. Maersk paused Trans Suez sailings and other major carriers issued disruption notices.

- Date: 2026-03-02 · published 2026-03-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Middle East · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16876-shipping-disrupted-in-the-middle-east-world-grain
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md), [Urea](https://feedsoft.ai/c/UREA.md)

## Why it matters

Suspended container and bulk sailings through Suez and Hormuz raise freight costs and delay grain and fertilizer deliveries to the region, supporting higher freight and energy prices.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bullish ▲
- UREA: bullish ▲
- BRENT: bullish ▲
- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2018-07-26 | [Factbox: Risks to Middle East oil and gas shipping routes](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63929-factbox-risks-to-middle-east-oil-and-gas-shipping-routes.md) | -3.0% | -3.8% |
| WTI | 2020-01-07 | [US, Iran tensions: Oil traders fear supply disruptions in Middle East](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55332-us-iran-tensions-oil-traders-fear-supply-disruptions-in-middle-east.md) | -8.1% | -21.6% |
| WTI | 2026-03-05 | [Fertiliser costs are soaring amid war in the Middle East. Will your grocery bill follow?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6256-fertiliser-costs-are-soaring-amid-war-in-the-middle-east-will-your-grocery-bill.md) | +16.5% | +35.8% |
| WTI | 2026-03-01 | [The Middle East conflict demonstrates the fragility of global food supply \| World Economic Forum](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10398-the-middle-east-conflict-demonstrates-the-fragility-of-global-food-supply-world.md) | +35.6% | +50.4% |
| WTI | 2026-03-01 | [Oil and gas prices surge as Iran war disrupts Middle Eastern output \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5228-oil-and-gas-prices-surge-as-iran-war-disrupts-middle-eastern-output-reuters.md) | +35.6% | +50.4% |
| BRENT | 2018-07-26 | [Factbox: Risks to Middle East oil and gas shipping routes](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63929-factbox-risks-to-middle-east-oil-and-gas-shipping-routes.md) | -0.7% | +0.1% |
| BRENT | 2020-01-07 | [US, Iran tensions: Oil traders fear supply disruptions in Middle East](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55332-us-iran-tensions-oil-traders-fear-supply-disruptions-in-middle-east.md) | -7.8% | -22.1% |
| BRENT | 2026-03-01 | [Oil and gas prices surge as Iran war disrupts Middle Eastern output \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5228-oil-and-gas-prices-surge-as-iran-war-disrupts-middle-eastern-output-reuters.md) | +31.0% | +62.6% |

## Sources

- world-grain.com: https://www.world-grain.com/articles/22469-shipping-disrupted-in-the-middle-east

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.