Freight Challenges Mounting for Moscow as the World’s Three Largest Container Ship Lines Suspend Cargo Shipments to and From Russia

On Tuesday (3-1-22), the world’s three largest container lines temporarily suspended cargo shipments to and from Russia in response to western sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Swiss-headquartered MSC, the world’s biggest container shipping company by capacity, said in a customer advisory that as of March 1 it had introduced “a temporary stoppage on all cargo bookings to/from Russia, covering all access areas including Baltics, Black Sea, and Far East Russia.”

“MSC will continue to accept and screen bookings for delivery of essential goods such as food, medical equipment and humanitarian goods,” the company added.

Denmark’s Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), which is the second-largest carrier after MSC, said separately it would temporarily halt all container shipping to and from Russia. Maersk added that the suspension covered all Russian ports and would not include foodstuffs, medical, and humanitarian supplies.

France’s CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container line, announced later on Tuesday that it had suspended all bookings to and from Russia until further notice, citing safety concerns.

The moves follow similar decisions already taken by Singapore-headquartered Ocean Network Express and Germany’s Hapag Lloyd (HLAG.DE), effectively cutting Russia off from the world’s leading container shipping companies and adding to freight challenges ahead.