HANOI: Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing severe external shocks as escalating military tensions in the Middle East disrupt key shipping routes, drive up freight and insurance costs and threaten cold chain stability.
Numerous shipping lines are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz amid rising security concerns, while some insurers have withdrawn war risk cover and emergency surcharges have surged.
Exporters are also bracing for a potential shortage of containers, particularly refrigerated units, critical to seafood transport.
The military conflict in the Middle East, started when Iran was attacked by the United States and Israel, has intensified.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and warned of strikes against vessels attempting to use the waterway, a vital corridor for global energy and goods flows. — Viet Nam News/ANN
