The escalation of tensions in the Middle East has exposed the vulnerability of global air cargo networks, particularly express logistics, placing additional pressure on South African importers and exporters.
“The 2026 escalation between Iran and the United States has reminded the global logistics industry that geopolitical events are no longer distant issues. They can immediately affect aircraft routing, trade lanes, fuel costs, customs flows, customer expectations and our ability to deliver with consistency,” said Herman Venter, managing director of DHL Express. He was speaking at the monthly Transport Forum, hosted by the South African Express Parcel Association (SAEPA).
The Middle East remained one of the most strategically important logistics corridors in the world, Venter said. “When that region becomes unstable, the impact is felt far beyond its borders. For South Africa, this matters because many of our trade flows are connected to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and major global gateway hubs.”
Shipments that do not originate in the Middle East depend on routes, airspace, fuel supply chains or connecting capacity linked to the region. “Regional instability can quickly become global supply chain disruption,” he said.
Express logistics
The conflict has also placed pressure on cargo capacity through major hubs in the region. “As flights were cancelled, rerouted or delayed, available cargo capacity tightened,” he said. This was particularly challenging for express logistics providers serving customers with urgent, high-value and time-sensitive shipments.
“Express logistics depends on predictability. Our model is built around speed, precision, connectivity and time-definite performance. When airspace becomes restricted, operating windows narrow, flight paths lengthen and contingency planning becomes essential.”
Airspace restrictions create bottlenecks across corridors with reduced connectivity. “The operational impacts are flight cancellations, rerouting and increased transit times,” said Venter
The situation had reinforced the importance of having multiple routing options and the ability to shift volumes quickly when traditional lanes became constrained, he said.
The conflict has also placed pressure on jet fuel availability and pricing. “For airlines and logistics networks, fuel is one of the largest operating cost components. Longer routes consume more fuel while higher fuel prices increase operating costs.
“Additional handling, storage, security measures and contingency routing add further cost pressure. In express logistics, these costs cannot be viewed in isolation. They affect service design, capacity planning, customer conversations and the ability to maintain time-definite delivery commitments,” he said.
South Africa sits at the end of several critical global trade lanes. “The Middle East conflict is another reminder that supply chains must be designed for uncertainty, not only efficiency,” he said. “Efficiency asks how we move faster and cheaper. Resilience asks how we continue operating when the normal route and the normal plan are no longer viable.”
