KARACHI: Pakistan’s seaports have recorded an unprecedented surge in cargo volumes since the escalation of geopolitical tensions that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The geopolitical tensions are forcing shipping lines to reroute cargoes through Pakistani waters, unlocking what analysts describe as a potentially short-term strategic opportunity for the Pakistani ports to act as a regional transshipment and energy redistribution hub.
In what officials are calling an unprecedented month for the country’s maritime sector, Port Qasim alone handled approximately 450,000 metric tons of petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across 17 vessel calls in March 2026, a volume that far exceeds the port’s typical monthly averages recorded throughout 2025.
Petroleum products accounted for the bulk of the traffic, with 11 tankers delivering roughly 417,000 metric tons of gasoline, high-speed diesel (HSD), high-sulphur diesel oil (HSDO), gasoil, motor gasoline (MOGAS), and high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) through the FOTCO dedicated petroleum terminal.
Notable arrivals included the MT Khairpur, which discharged 60,000 MT of HSD from Fujairah, and the MT Nave Atropos, which delivered 53,139 MT of gasoline from Singapore, underscoring the global scale of the supply chain disruption.
Six vessels collectively offloaded approximately 33,000 metric tons of LPG (equivalent to roughly 60,000 cubic metres) through the EVTL and SSGC terminals.
Shipments arrived from as far afield as Iraq, Oman, and Yanbu, with vessels including the Navigator Atlantic from Oman and the Navigator Aries from Iraq among the larger consignments.
Cargo origins spanned ports across six countries - the UAE (Fujairah), Oman (including Sohar), Saudi Arabia (Yanbu), Singapore, Iraq, and beyond, reflecting how broadly the Hormuz closure has disrupted traditional Gulf shipping corridors and driven cargo toward alternative transit routes through Pakistan.
A Port Qasim spokesperson said the authority had introduced night navigation for LPG carriers to manage the surge in vessel traffic without creating bottlenecks. The initiative has delivered faster vessel turnaround, reduced anchorage congestion, and boosted overall throughput, allowing the port to absorb elevated traffic without compromising safety standards, he said.
Furthermore, he said that FOTCO’s dedicated petroleum terminal, combined with storage capacity exceeding 295,000 metric tons across PSO ZOT, PAPCO, KHTL, and FTTL facilities, provided the backbone for smooth operations.
He added that the modernisation of the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), integration with the Port Community System (PCS) and Pakistan Single Window (PSW), and ERP deployment have further strengthened operational efficiency. The marginal wharves have also been kept available on a first-come, first-served basis to handle overflow cargo, he maintained.
Similarly, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) handled 165,476 tons of cargo in a recent 24-hour period. Import cargo totalled 124,267 tons, comprising 87,995 tons of containerized cargo, 30,901 tons of liquid cargo, 3,003 tons of canola, and 2,368 tons of ammonium sulphate.
Export cargo reached 41,209 tons, including 22,045 tons of containerised cargo, 10,700 tons of clinkers, 5,194 tons of loose bulk cement, 3,200 tons of liquid cargo, and 70 tons of break-bulk cargo.
Figures shared by KPT revealed that since March 1, 2026, around 8,313 TEUs of transshipment containers were handled across three private terminals - SAPTL led with 5,286 TEUs, followed by KICT with 1,827 TEUs and KGTL with 1,200 TEUs.
While comparisons to annual figures require careful context, the month-on-month acceleration undoubtedly reflects a sharp surge in cargo inflows at Pakistani ports.
In addition, bunkering activity at both ports has also increased, providing an additional revenue stream for the maritime sector.
The current conditions, which show a temporary windfall, will test Pakistan’s ability to capitalise on the momentum and translate it into a permanent competitive advantage.
