Maersk warns shipping could run short of fuel as Gulf attacks spread

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc has warned that a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could create fuel supply problems for shipping lines, forcing carriers to move fuel around the world more actively to keep vessels operating. His comments come as attacks on commercial shipping and transport infrastructure across the Gulf intensify, while oil market agencies and analysts revise their outlooks higher.

In an interview on CNN, Clerc said Maersk had 10 ships “stuck in the Upper Gulf” and numerous more on their way to the region that would require contingency planning. Rather than waiting for the Strait to reopen, he said Maersk would stage cargo in alternative ports, including Oman or Jeddah, before vessels continue to their next assignments.

Clerc also said Maersk was once again avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as a precaution because of the risk of renewed attacks on shipping. He warned that while the company could manage in the short term, a prolonged disruption would create “serious congestions” and “serious issues across the global supply chain.”

One of Clerc’s clearest warnings concerned marine fuel. He told CNN that with the Strait closed, there was enough oil in the world, but “not enough oil everywhere in the world”. He said this could leave some regions with ample fuel and others facing shortages, meaning Maersk may need to move fuel proactively so ships can bunker in the right ports and keep the network running. He described this as “uncharted territory” for the industry.

Maersk’s concerns are already feeding through into customer costs. On 10 March, the carrier announced a temporary global Emergency Bunker Surcharge, saying disruption linked to Hormuz was affecting fuel availability, fuel costs and the mix of products required across its network.

Attacks spread from shipping lanes to Gulf transport infrastructure

The wider security picture has also deteriorated. Yesterday (11 March 2026 – the ed.) Iran had escalated attacks on infrastructure and transport networks across the Gulf, including commercial shipping, while also targeting Dubai’s international airport. According to media reports, there was still no sign that ships could safely resume transit through Hormuz, and hundreds of vessels were effectively blockaded behind the narrow channel for fear of attack. According to The Guardian, the number of ships reportedly hit since the war began had risen to 14.

Reuters has reported that the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for about 20% of global oil supply, and that tanker traffic through the waterway fell to a near standstill after the conflict escalated. Reuters also reported that nearly 20 million barrels per day of supply were effectively trapped inside the Gulf.

Maersk warns the next crisis may be fuel, not just delays

The oil market is already reflecting those risks. Reuters reported on 12 March that Goldman Sachs raised its fourth-quarter 2026 forecasts to $71 per barrel for Brent and $67 for WTI, up from $66 and $62 respectively, because it expects longer disruption to oil flows through Hormuz due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The news agency also noted that both benchmarks had briefly topped $119 earlier this week, their highest levels since mid-2022.

Governments and energy agencies are trying to contain the fallout, but the measures announced so far may offer only limited relief. The International Energy Agency had agreed to a record 400 million-barrel coordinated release of strategic reserves, the largest collective drawdown in its history. However, experts also cautioned that the move may be only a “band-aid” on a much larger supply shock, noting that after just 11 days of conflict the estimated market deficit had already reached about 220 million barrels.