DHL Expects Supply Chains to Take Months to Normalise
DHL's Tobias Maier says global supply chains could take three to six months to recover after Iran-conflict shipping disruptions ease.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Transportation
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DHL Global Forwarding executive Tobias Maier said global supply chains could take three to six months to normalise after shipping disruptions caused by the Iran conflict ease. The Strait of Hormuz has not yet reopened, and container flow imbalances persist.
Why it matters
Businesses in the region face higher freight costs, container shortages and congestion at alternative ports, with India-Europe trade among the most affected. Supply chains will not immediately return to their previous state once the Strait of Hormuz reopens.
DHL mobilised 500-700 vehicles from the market within the first 48 hours of the conflict to service customers. Executive Tobias Maier estimated supply chains could take three to six months to normalise, though the Strait of Hormuz has not yet reopened.
The players
DHL
DHL is a global logistics company whose Global Forwarding division moves freight by air, ocean and road across international trade lanes.
Tobias Maier
Tobias Maier is an executive with DHL Global Forwarding who spoke publicly from Dubai about the outlook for global supply chains.
The details
DHL is exploring leasing around 500 trucks for cross-border operations to improve intra-GCC connectivity by Q1 2027. Container flow imbalances persist, and businesses across the region are contending with higher freight costs and congestion at alternative ports.
Timeline
The first 48 hours after the Iran conflict began saw DHL mobilise 500-700 vehicles to service customers.
DHL targets Q1 2027 for leasing around 500 trucks for GCC cross-border operations.
Market Landscape
The disruption centres on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint whose closure has forced freight to reroute through alternative ports. Recovery will lag the reopening, as container flow imbalances take months to correct across India-Europe and GCC trade lanes.
Shippers and importers should expect higher freight costs and container shortages to persist for months after shipping disruptions ease. Businesses trading between India, Europe and the GCC may face longer delivery times and congestion at alternative ports during the recovery period.
The takeaway
Plan inventory and shipping timelines for a recovery period of several months, not weeks, even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Build buffers into India-Europe and GCC freight schedules now to absorb congestion and container shortages.
What happens next
DHL plans to decide on leasing around 500 trucks for cross-border GCC operations by Q1 2027.
Further reading
For broader context on freight and logistics routes, see Transportation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.
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