CMA CGM launches multimodal solutions to bypass the Strait of Hormuz

CMA CGM is deploying multiple transport solutions to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and maintain the continuity of supply chains in the Middle East.

The company said in a customer statement, “Given the situation in the Middle East and the restrictions affecting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring the safety of our crews and employees remains the CMA CGM Group’s absolute priority. Due to significant navigation constraints, the CMA CGM Group is mobilising to support its customers’ supply chains and ensure the continuity of trade flows to and from the Middle East.”

It explained that it is deploying alternative multimodal solutions combining maritime, rail and road transport to maintain logistics flows despite the situation in Hormuz.

Located south of the Strait of Hormuz, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and Sohar serve as strategic entry points for cargo flows destined for the Gulf. From these ports, CMA CGM offers logistics corridors serving the main hubs of the United Arab Emirates (Khalifa, Jebel Ali, Sharjah) and other countries bordering the Persian Gulf through a combination of regional land and maritime transport.

The port of Jeddah, located on the Red Sea, also provides an alternative to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, CMA CGM said. From Jeddah, CMA CGM is deploying road corridors, with or without a maritime connection, to handle onward transport to Saudi Arabia (Dammam), the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. This setup also enables cargo flows to be connected to the Mediterranean and Asia without exposure to the Strait.

CMA CGM also relies on Omani ports to offer a third major road bypass solution. These ports enable road connections to the United Arab Emirates and links to the Upper Gulf, combining road and feeder services, “providing a reliable alternative for regional and cross-border flows”, said CMA CGM.

It summed up, “Through this system, CMA CGM confirms its ability to anticipate geopolitical risks and provide robust, flexible and secure logistics solutions in support of international trade.”