German Exporters Explore Syria, Türkiye Land Routes Amid Hormuz Crises

(MENAFN) German exporters targeting Gulf markets are scrambling to find alternative trade corridors as the ongoing Iran war continues to inflate freight costs and insurance premiums, forcing logistics firms to explore overland routes through Syria and Türkiye.

Hans-Ulrich Dicke, projects manager at logistics firm Derda, confirmed that the crisis has pushed the industry toward unconventional solutions.

"Iran war is, of course, hampering all business with the Middle East. The container ships cannot cross the Strait of Hormuz anymore, so we're seeking alternative solutions on a daily basis," he told media.

At the outset of the conflict, operators redirected shipments through the UAE's Port of Fujairah on the country's eastern coastline — a workaround designed to bypass the now-impassable strait. That option, however, has quickly become strained under mounting traffic volumes.

Attempts to route cargo through Jeddah proved equally unworkable. "We then tried the Jeddah option, but it was not viable as it cost four times more," Dicke said. Air freight, meanwhile, remained out of reach for most exporters given the volume and nature of goods involved — leaving ground-level logistics managers searching for emergency alternatives. "Now we are looking to move goods through Syria to the Gulf countries," he added.

A €25 Billion Trade Corridor Under Threat
The Gulf represents one of Germany's most lucrative export destinations, absorbing machinery, automotive components, and chemical products worth approximately €25 billion ($29 billion) across the six Gulf Cooperation Council states — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain — in 2025 alone. The bloc also functions as a critical distribution hub for the broader Middle East.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to commercial vessels, the financial exposure runs into billions of euros.

Dicke highlighted that companies dealing in perishable and time-sensitive goods — pharmaceuticals, food, and beverages — have been hit especially hard. Capital-intensive manufacturers are also struggling with an inability to forecast supply chains.

"So the longer this blockade takes, the more dangerous it gets because the companies invest and they cannot sell the goods in the end. And this, of course, is a huge problem," he said.

"If this war keeps on for a longer time, this will have a catastrophic influence on all of us," he warned.

Syria Emerges as Key Land Bridge
At rival logistics firm Roland, business development manager Okba Shech Ahmad said inbound inquiries from German exporters have surged, with companies increasingly diverting shipments overland through Türkiye and Syria.

"More than 50% of companies are directly affected by the current conflict," he said, noting that his team tracks the Iran war and the Hormuz blockade on a daily basis.

"We are developing of course new, alternative solutions, from Germany to Arab countries, through Syria for example," he told media.

Ahmad described Syria's geographic position as "very strategic" while stressing that the corridor is only viable in conjunction with Türkiye. His firm has already transitioned a portion of its operations to overland routes running through both countries, continuing onward into Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and neighboring Gulf states.

A parallel multimodal route — combining European sea freight into Türkiye's Mersin port with onward trucking through Syria — is also being deployed. Fully overland shipments from Germany to Saudi Arabia require a minimum of three weeks; the hybrid sea-land option extends that window to roughly 35 days.

Despite the added time and expense, client response has been broadly positive.

"Our clients are pleased with these solutions, they want to move forward with these options," Ahmad said.

"It may take longer and be more expensive at the moment, but it's working. It's the (only) possible solution right now."

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