Faced with increasing restrictions on maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz, French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM is introducing comprehensive multimodal solutions. The aim is to ensure the continuity of supply chains to the Middle East without exposing ships and crews to high-voltage areas.
The CMA CGM Group is adjusting its operational measures in the Middle East. Given the current instability, the world’s third largest shipping company has decided on alternative routes. These combine sea, road and rail transport to serve the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Strategic reorganization of the flow of goods
To maintain the continuity of supply chains, the group relies on three bypass axes: Firstly, via the UAE hub: the ports of Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and Sohar, which lie outside the Strait of Hormuz, now serve as entry points. The goods are then transported by truck or train to the industrial areas of Jebel Ali, Khalifa and Sharjah.
On the other hand, it uses the corridor across the Red Sea via Jeddah: the Saudi port is becoming an important transshipment platform. From Jeddah, road connections allow deliveries to Dammam, Kuwait and Iraq, completely avoiding passage through the strait.
Ultimately, the group uses the Omani connection: The Sultanate of Oman supplements the system with road connections to the Emirates and feeder services to the northern Gulf.
Resilience test for retail and industry
This reorganization comes at a time when crew safety is a top priority. For customers, especially in the fashion and textile industries, these multimodal solutions avoid delivery bottlenecks but require more complex logistics management.
In 2025, CMA CGM transported more than 24 million TEU containers. This operational capability is supported by its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, which handled 15 million shipments last year. It allows the group to offer an alternative to traditional sea routes when the geopolitical context requires it.
With this measure, the Marseille-based shipping company confirms its transformation into a global logistics provider capable of anticipating risks to ensure smooth international trade.
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