Middle East Tensions Create Uneven Cargo Pricing for Nigerian Air Freight Operators

The escalation of hostilities in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is beginning to ripple through Nigeria’s air cargo market, leading to uneven freight pricing among logistics operators who rely on global aviation networks for shipments.

For some Nigerian freight handlers, outbound cargo rates have risen sharply since the crisis intensified on February 28, forcing them to review their pricing structures. Others, however, insist their charges remain largely unchanged, particularly for shipments routed to Western destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

An online medium over the weekend reported that interviews with several operators indicate the conflict’s impact has been shaped largely by the routes they serve and the logistics networks they rely on to move cargo abroad.

While the Middle East is not a major destination for many Nigerian shipments, its role as a critical aviation transit hub means disruptions there can affect cargo flows across multiple global routes.

For some logistics firms, the conflict has triggered a noticeable increase in operational costs.

Nairametrics quoted a logistics professional at Mayckles Cargo Logistics, Peace Azagba, as saying that the situation compelled his firm to adjust outbound cargo rates in line with tariff revisions by international courier companies and airlines.

According to him, the adjustments followed operational disruptions caused by the crisis, which forced the company to pass part of the higher costs on to customers.

“We usually ship at reasonable rates depending on the volume of shipment, but since the crisis started, courier services have increased their tariffs,” Azagba explained.

“As a result, our company had to increase our outbound cargo rates by about 30 per cent.”

The situation has been particularly difficult for shipments to the Middle East, where several airlines and courier networks have suspended services amid intensifying security concerns.

Azagba noted that the disruption had already forced his company to withdraw shipments to the region on multiple occasions.

He recalled two instances in which cargo bound for Qatar had to be recalled because demurrage charges began to accumulate amid uncertainty over flight availability.

The experience underscores how rapidly changing aviation conditions can disrupt cargo logistics, even when the shipments originate thousands of kilometres away from the conflict zone.