Global shipping company A.P. Moller–Maersk has temporarily suspended new cargo bookings to and from the Port of Berbera in Somaliland, a move that is disrupting a key trade corridor linking the Horn of Africa coastline to Ethiopia’s import-dependent economy. The suspension affects new bookings immediately, although cargo already in transit will still be delivered as planned.
The Port of Berbera has grown in strategic importance in recent years as Ethiopia seeks to diversify its access to global trade routes beyond Djibouti. It has become a critical gateway for imports such as fuel, construction materials and consumer goods, while also supporting export flows including livestock. The suspension is expected to place additional pressure on regional supply chains, potentially increasing freight costs and extending transit times.
Maersk noted that while it is pausing its Berbera operations due to scheduling adjustments, its broader East African network remains active through Djibouti, Mogadishu and Mombasa. However, these alternatives are already handling significant traffic, particularly Djibouti, which remains the dominant gateway for Ethiopian trade and is experiencing congestion challenges.
The disruption highlights the fragility of logistics infrastructure in the Horn of Africa, where even temporary service changes by major carriers can quickly impact trade flows. It also affects Somaliland’s long-term ambitions to position Berbera as a major regional logistics hub, while forcing shippers to rely more heavily on already stretched ports in the region.
The development comes amid wider instability in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes, where carriers continue to adjust schedules and port calls, making regional trade corridors increasingly sensitive to operational shifts by global shipping lines such as A.P. Moller–Maersk.
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