Global container carrier and the 5th-largest by capacity, Hapag-Lloyd navigates energy-route disruptions and sanction-influenced maritime flows.
Since mid-April the U.S. has enforced a naval blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and Iran has been firing on and seizing ships; only a tiny fraction of pre-war traffic is transiting the Strait of Hormuz, dozens of tankers are stuck in the Gulf and recent U.S. actions have redirected or intercepted multiple Iranian-flagged vessels.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad this week to convey Tehran's proposals to Pakistani mediators; the Iranians have said they will not hold direct talks with US envoys. The White House has planned to send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, but Washington has withdrawn some security staff and Trump has publicly paused the envoys' visit while saying Iran sent an improved proposal.
The Red Sea shipping route faces disruption as Houthi threats widen the risk to Israeli-linked vessels amid Iran’s ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia diverts crude to Yanbu, while energy markets react to escalation in the region.
The United States has stated it will charge a 20% toll on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz to fund security. Analysts say the plan faces legal, diplomatic, and practical hurdles and could reduce traffic through the waterway. Shipping groups condemn tolls on international waters. The proposal remains unproven and contentious.