Irish food exporters are working in a more complex trading environment as disruption affects flows into the Middle East, but underlying fundamentals of demand and long-standing trade relationships support a positive outlook.
Recent disruption has exposed the vulnerability of supply chains serving the region. An estimated €370 million of Irish dairy exports is directly exposed, with shipments delayed, rerouted or held in transit as logistics networks adjust. In some cases, time-sensitive cargoes have faced spoilage risks, highlighting the importance of resilient, well-managed supply chains for perishable goods.
Yet this is only one side of the picture. The Middle East remains one of the most structurally dependent food import markets in the world, offering sustained demand for exporters.
Key markets such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to play a central role, with the UAE alone importing around 90% of its food requirements to support a population of more than 11 million.
These structural factors do not disappear during disruption. If anything, they reinforce the importance of dependable supply chains and partners who can maintain flow under pressure.
Disruption highlights the need for supply chain agility
The current environment is testing exporters’ ability to respond quickly. Delays, rerouting and extended transit times are placing pressure on inventory planning, shelf life and customer commitments, particularly for temperature-controlled and time-sensitive products.
The challenge is twofold:
- Maintaining product quality across longer and more variable transit times
- Securing reliable routing options as traditional corridors become less predictable
At the same time, disruption is accelerating a shift towards more flexible, diversified logistics strategies. Exporters are reassessing routing options, exploring alternative gateways and placing greater emphasis on visibility and control across the supply chain.
Alternative routing strategies maintain GCC access
With disruption in the Strait of Hormuz reshaping traditional port access, alternative routing has become critical to maintaining continuity into the Gulf.
Global Forwarding provides access to a network of ocean entry points and cross-border land corridors across the GCC, enabling cargo to move even where primary routes are constrained.
Rather than relying solely on Jebel Ali, shipments are being routed via ports the UAE’s east coast, Oman and Saudi Arabia. These gateways sit outside direct Hormuz exposure and remain fully operational across FCL, LCL and breakbulk cargo.
From these ports, bonded trucking solutions connect into key inland markets, supported by established customs clearance processes and defined transit times. This allows cargo to reach final destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Muscat with greater predictability.
Supporting Irish exporters globally
Global Forwarding supports Irish food exporters with specialist logistics solutions designed for perishable and high-value cargo. With group offices in Ireland and a global network across the Hecny Group, we combine local expertise with international reach to keep supply chains moving under pressure.
Our capabilities include:
- Temperature-controlled air and ocean freight solutions
- Alternative routing strategies to mitigate disruption
- Real-time shipment visibility and proactive exception management
- Customs and compliance support across multiple markets
- End-to-end coordination from origin to final delivery
By aligning logistics strategy with market conditions, Global Forwarding helps exporters protect product integrity, maintain customer commitments and respond quickly to changing environments.
