Intra-Asia trade remains resilient despite Middle East conflict

Short-sea services and transhipment hubs are absorbing demand.

Intra-Asia trade is holding amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict, with flows between China, Southeast Asia, and India tagged as active markets, according to a Maersk report.

Short-sea services and transhipment hubs are absorbing demand as shippers shift to regional sourcing strategies and diversify manufacturing footprints across Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Despite this, the report flags heightened uncertainty across APAC ocean freight markets, with long-haul trade corridors requiring continuous network adjustments.

Alternative gateways, including Jeddah, Salalah, Sohar, and Khor Fakkan, remain active, with Khor Fakkan now connected to Jebel Ali by rail and Jeddah-supported trucking extended into Dammam and Riyadh.

On trade policy, the report notes that APAC exporters are navigating a complex tariff environment, with sourcing shifts from China into Southeast Asia accelerating.

Less-than-container load volumes are rising on China–Southeast Asia lanes as shippers use consolidation to manage smaller, more frequent shipments.