Cargo transportation

Sea freight rates on routes from Asia to the Middle East have reached record levels. Brent crude oil is above $111 per barrel. Shipowners include increased War Risk Premium military insurance in their tariffs. Part of the fleet goes on detour routes. Importers whose supply chains run through the Persian Gulf are already counting losses.

While the Strait of Hormuz remained unstable, cargo flows began to move more actively to the Caspian route. Astrakhan — Enzeli, Aktau — Baku, ferry lines across the closed sea without access to the Persian Gulf. The route is not new, but the crisis around Hormuz has made it a working, rather than a backup scheme.

Iran began to allow part of the Chinese ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Fars news agency reported on May 15. Trump lifted the two-day blockade of the strait after the first round of talks with Xi Jinping. About 20% of the world's oil and LNG supplies pass through Hormuz. For cargo carriers and importers whose routes are linked to the Persian Gulf, this is a pause in the most acute episode of the crisis.

The Russian government has approved a concept for the development of the unmanned cargo transportation market. The government is starting to prepare a full-fledged infrastructure for autonomous trucks, digital corridors and new rules for the transport industry.