Pakistan ports see record cargo surge amid US-Israeli war on Iran

KARACHI, Pakistan (MNTV) — Pakistan’s main seaports are handling record volumes of rerouted cargo as conflict in the Gulf disrupts traditional shipping lanes.

Since early March, the Port of Karachi and Bin Qasim Port have seen a sharp rise in transshipments, cargo temporarily offloaded and redirected to other destinations, as vessels steer clear of high-risk routes linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran.

The Port of Karachi alone processed 8,313 containers in just 24 days, slightly surpassing its total transshipment volume for all of 2025, according to the Karachi Port Trust.

Strikes and operational disruptions at major Gulf hubs, including Oman’s Salalah and the UAE’s Jebel Ali, have pushed shippers toward safer alternatives. Insurance premiums for Gulf delivery are currently four times higher than for Pakistani ports, making Karachi a cost-effective option for regional trade.

Mohammad Rajpar, chairman of the Pakistan Ship’s Agents Association, called Karachi a “safe haven” for regional cargo. He added that port operations continued even through Eid al-Fitr, a first in the port’s 172-year history.

Pakistani ports currently operate at 3.8 million containers annually, well below their six-million-container capacity, leaving room to absorb further increases.

Analysts say the shift could outlast the conflict. Shipping expert Aasim Siddiqui projected the effects could last four to five years, calling it “a golden opportunity” to build a sustainable transshipment industry.

The government has recently amended customs regulations to speed up transshipment processing, a move industry leaders say could strengthen Pakistan’s long-term position as a regional maritime hub.