CMA CGM has partially relaxed restrictions on the movement of transit cargo through Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Port, but severe congestion and inland bottlenecks continue to affect operations at the major Red Sea gateway.
The French container shipping line has informed customers that it will now accept certain Upper Gulf transit cargo via Jeddah, provided the shipment has a Saudi-based notify party listed on the bill of lading.
The move represents a partial easing of restrictions introduced by CMA CGM in June, when the carrier suspended acceptance of shipments booked to Jeddah for merchant haulage to destinations outside Saudi Arabia. The restrictions were introduced following measures by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) aimed at reducing congestion caused by containers remaining at the port for extended periods.
Despite the relaxation, congestion at Jeddah remains a major concern for shipping lines and cargo owners. Industry updates indicate that container release times have stretched to six to eight days, while vessels have reportedly faced berthing delays of up to 10 days.
The congestion has also prompted several carriers to introduce additional charges. MSC has announced a $500 per TEU congestion surcharge for Jeddah imports, while Hapag-Lloyd has announced higher charges for containers carrying dangerous goods. Turkon Line has also introduced surcharges on Jeddah bookings from Turkey.
Saudi authorities have tightened controls on regional and cross-border cargo moving through the country’s ports. Under the measures, in-transit containers are required to leave the port within 15 days of arrival, with the objective of preventing prolonged container dwell and further congestion.
With conditions at Jeddah yet to fully improve, some shipping lines are encouraging customers to consider alternative gateways. King Abdullah Port is emerging as one such option, with carriers using multimodal and land-bridge solutions to move cargo onward to destinations across the Gulf.
The situation highlights the continuing pressure on Saudi Arabia’s logistics infrastructure as cargo flows across the Middle East adjust to changing regional trade routes and ongoing disruptions. MSC, for example, continues to route some Upper Gulf cargo through King Abdullah Port using a land-bridge solution to Dammam and onward feeder services.
For shippers, the partial relaxation by CMA CGM provides some additional flexibility, but persistent yard congestion, vessel delays and additional surcharges mean that Jeddah cargo movements are likely to remain challenging in the near term.