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KARACHI July 6,2026: Founder Chairman of the Salt Manufacturers Association Pakistan (SMAP), Ismail Suttar, has warned that customs delays and shipping disruptions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are raising logistics costs and weakening Pakistan’s export competitiveness.
In a statement, Suttar said exporters continue to face serious challenges as customs clearance at Dubai and other major GCC ports has slowed, even when shipments arrive on time.
“Exporters are no longer dealing only with high freight charges,” he said. “Lengthy customs procedures are increasing storage, detention and administrative costs, making Pakistani goods more expensive in international markets.”
He added that although shipping companies have adjusted operations after recent regional tensions, the logistics network remains fragile. Exporters are meeting shipping schedules, but post-arrival delays continue to disrupt deliveries and business planning.
Suttar noted that several global shipping lines, including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, have yet to fully resume their traditional routes through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, transit times have increased significantly while schedule reliability has declined.
“Before the regional conflict, shipments to Jebel Ali usually arrived within two to three days. Today, they often take 15 to 20 days,” he said.
He added that war-risk premiums, emergency freight surcharges, higher insurance costs, port congestion and extended storage charges have sharply increased exporters’ operating expenses.
According to Suttar, the salt industry has suffered the most because salt is a low-value bulk commodity that depends heavily on affordable freight.
“When transport costs exceed the value of the cargo, exporters simply cannot compete in global markets,” he said.
He warned that prolonged disruptions are also complicating inventory management, extending cash cycles and reducing supply chain reliability for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
Suttar stressed that efficient trade depends not only on shipping services but also on faster customs clearance and smoother cargo handling at destination ports.
He urged shipping companies, freight forwarders, customs authorities, terminal operators and regulators to improve coordination, simplify customs procedures and reduce unnecessary delays.
He added that stronger regional cooperation will lower logistics costs, strengthen supply chains and help Pakistani exporters serve international markets more efficiently.
