Because of the significant transit time penalties for vessels sailing to Central and Eastern Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, shipping lines have pushed African relay operations south down the Atlantic seaboard.
As a result, West Africa ports have seen significant connectivity increases. Walvis Bay, on the other hand, became an alternative to the congested Durban for Asia‑Europe vessels sailing around Africa. Similarly, ports located along the Gulf of Oman have captured the most significant connectivity gains due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Compared to a pre‑crisis baseline, Duqm and Khor Fakkan recorded massive connectivity increases of 213% and 188%, respectively. Meanwhile, East Africa and Indian Subcontinent ports acted as a prominent hub for displaced regional cargo, for shipping lines that wanted to avoid the conflict region altogether, driving connectivity gains for Dar Es Salaam and Hambantota.
