Desert Convoys Emerge as Oil Route Bypass for Hormuz Strait
With Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz, some Middle Eastern firms are moving oil and fertilizer by land across the Arabian Desert, forming thousands-strong truck convoys that, while slower and costlier, keep trade flowing. Maaden has expanded its desert fleet from about 600 to as many as 3,500 trucks, using trains as well to reach ports not controlled by Iran; major shippers note the overland route cannot replace sea capacity but helps cushion supply chains and inflation. A vivid example is UK-to-Dubai shipments taking a 16-day land route via Europe and Egypt. The arrangement reflects a temporary workaround to geopolitical chokepoints, reshaping logistics and price dynamics without fully replacing traditional shipping.”