The Digester

Maersk boss says Iran war shipping costs will be passed to consumers

Mar 11th 2026

Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc told the BBC that higher fuel and rerouting costs from the Iran, Israel and US conflict are being passed to customers and will ultimately reach consumers as shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remain disrupted.

  • Maersk will pass fuel and rerouting cost increases to customers under standard contracting mechanisms.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed and major lines are avoiding the Red Sea, forcing longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope.
  • Additional costs average about $200 per 20ft container, which Clerc said can raise some freight charges by 15 to 20 percent.
  • At least seven seafarers have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, according to the UN International Maritime Organization.
  • China has summoned Maersk and another carrier to discuss higher freight charges linked to the Iran conflict.
  • Clerc said naval escorts could provide temporary relief but that a diplomatic deal to restore safe navigation is the preferred long term solution.

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