MSC has announced an update to its acceptance rules for cargo moving from North Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Under the update, shipments discharged at Jeddah Islamic Port or King Abdullah Port will only be accepted if their final destination is inside the Kingdom, with a registered consignee in Saudi Arabia required for such cargo.
Bookings remain open to ports in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman, with multimodal solutions available through the Kingdom for certain eligible shipments. MSC stated that some cargo not permitted to move through Saudi Arabia can be accepted via alternative routings, without specifying how long the current arrangements will remain in place, making it necessary for shippers to verify consignee details and final destination before confirming a booking.