Official news released on June 23, 2026 by Xinhua and U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) confirms that the United States has formally issued a 60-day sanctions exemption for Iran's petroleum industry after bilateral diplomatic negotiations held in Switzerland this week. The temporary general license covers all links of Iran's oil trade chain, including crude extraction, ocean transportation, marine insurance, dollar cross-border payment and terminal unloading, and even permits the import of Iranian oil products into the United States within the valid period.
For the global shipping sector, the most transformative influence lies in the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel. Over the past 108 days, carriers including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM had to take long detours around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid regional conflict risks, which added 10–14 extra sailing days and forced carriers to collect high war risk surcharges and detour fees. With the new waiver in place, all mainstream shipping lines will gradually resume direct routes passing through the Hormuz Strait starting this week, and cancel temporary risk-related surcharges within 10 working days.
Bunker fuel prices will see a continuous downward trend driven by the recovery of Iranian oil exports. Industry institutions forecast global marine fuel costs will drop by 12%-20% in July and August, which will directly reduce the core cost expenditure of container and bulk carriers. For Chinese foreign trade enterprises focusing on European and Middle Eastern markets, two major positive changes will appear: the overall transit cycle will be shortened due to the cancellation of long-distance detours, and the all-in ocean freight rates will fall steadily as multiple extra surcharges are removed.
Logistics forwarders remind exporters to adjust their shipping schedules reasonably. In the short term, a small number of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf will be concentrated on return voyages, causing slight temporary fluctuations in spot freight rates, but the long-term downward trend of freight is definite. Enterprises with shipment plans to the Middle East, Mediterranean and Northern Europe can appropriately delay booking to obtain more favorable prices, while long-term contract customers can renegotiate contract freight terms with carriers based on the latest market adjustments.
Professional integrated logistics providers can offer one-stop route optimization and freight quotation consulting services, helping shippers seize the window of falling freight costs, arrange stable cabin space, and avoid supply chain delays and extra logistics expenses caused by delayed policy adaptation.
