## Company Profile Clematis Logistics Services L.L.C — Dubai-based freight forwarder (lead contact: Priya Vikas, Dubai Head Office). Website: https://www.clematislogistics.com. Public profile indicates a UAE freight‑forwarding firm operating from Dubai; as a Dubai forwarder they are likely to offer ocean and air forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing/transshipment coordination, and regional door‑delivery and project‑cargo services for importers, exporters and re‑exporters in the GCC and Africa. No audited scale figures were available in open sources from the lead data. ## Pain Points 1) Route complexity & cost volatility: Red Sea / Strait of Hormuz disruptions in 2026 have forced carriers onto Cape routings and alternative transshipment patterns through Dubai, adding 7–10 days and significant per‑container cost increases. Clematis’s customers face higher unpredictability in transit times, emergency surcharges, war‑risk premiums and fragmented multi‑modal legs that raise quoting complexity and margin erosion. 2) Need for origin diversification & supplier sourcing for food/agri clients: Dubai is a major re‑export hub for food/FMCG into the Middle East and Africa; traders and buyers are actively seeking alternative origins, consolidated suppliers and sea‑air options to protect lead times and margins. Clematis’s trading clients likely lack fast, reliable supplier discovery and rapid landed‑cost comparisons when routes shift. 3) Time‑sensitive cargo & sea‑air demand: Higher landed costs and longer sea transit times are pushing more high‑value perishables, specialty ingredients and pharma to sea–air or air routing via DXB/DWC. Clematis must secure capable suppliers, predictable sea–air routings, and air space options — often on short notice — to retain customers. ## Intel Summary === MULTI-DIMENSION RESEARCH === === 1. [MARKET EVENTS] – UAE / DUBAI FREIGHT FORWARDING MARKET 2026, RED SEA & GULF DISRUPTIONS, ROUTING/TRANSSHIPMENT TRENDS === **Role of UAE/Dubai in 2026 network after Red Sea / Hormuz shocks** - Jebel Ali and other UAE ports remain central to carriers’ workaround networks for Asia–Middle East–Europe traffic, acting as a pivot for storage, equipment balance and transshipment while services toggle between Suez and Cape of Good Hope routings.([reactmediauae.com](https://reactmediauae.com/en/2026/02/03/uae-logistics-ports-red-sea-risks-2026/?utm_source=openai)) - 2024 global DP World throughput reached a record **88.3m TEU**, giving capacity headroom to absorb diverted flows in 2025–26; Dubai terminals are a major share of this volume (exact Jebel Ali 2024 TEU not broken out but 2024 volumes were described as highest since 2015).([portseurope.com](https://www.portseurope.com/dp-world-sees-record-teu-traffic-of-88-3-million-in-2024/?utm_source=openai)) **Ocean freight: Red Sea & Gulf disruption patterns into 2026** - As of March–April 2026, **most mainline container services are still avoiding the Red Sea/Suez**, routing via the **Cape of Good Hope**, with only a minority of east‑west container flows (about **18–20%** of pre‑crisis volume) now back using Suez.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/red-sea-shipping-reopens?utm_source=openai)) - A recent analysis notes the share of east‑to‑west flows using Suez is **~18.7% vs c. 80% pre‑disruption**, underscoring that diversions remain structurally significant into 2026.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/red-sea-shipping-reopens?utm_source=openai)) - Separate reporting in April 2026 describes “persistent diversions” around the Cape still **adding 7–10 days** to Asia–Europe and Asia–Middle East voyages and tightening effective vessel capacity.([ports.marinelink.com](https://ports.marinelink.com/ports/port/cairo/news/red-sea-diversions-strain-global-supply-chains-q2-2026?utm_source=openai)) - A Q1‑2026 logistics report highlights **Strait of Hormuz disruptions** and higher fuel costs as an additional Middle East shock, with emergency surcharges and selective reductions in insurer coverage for Gulf and Red Sea calls.([bertling.com](https://www.bertling.com/news-pool/market/ocean-freight-market-report-april-2026/?utm_source=openai)) **Alternative routings and transshipment patterns involving UAE** - Carriers have built complex detours using **UAE and nearby hubs**: - **Khor Fakkan (Sharjah, UAE), Sohar & Salalah (Oman), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)** as transshipment and rail/truck redistribution points for Gulf and Levant cargo.([enterpriseam.com](https://enterpriseam.com/logistics/2026/04/23/can-the-workaround-hold-if-the-boxes-are-drifting/?utm_source=openai)) - Example: cargo originally bound for **Qatar via Jebel Ali** was diverted to **Khor Fakkan**, trucked across the UAE, then re‑feedered to Doha, adding **USD 3,600–5,000 per container and 4–8 weeks** to delivery.([enterpriseam.com](https://enterpriseam.com/logistics/2026/04/23/can-the-workaround-hold-if-the-boxes-are-drifting/?utm_source=openai)) - Jebel Ali is specifically cited as: - A hub to **rebalance empty containers**, - A **sea–air transshipment node** (e.g., ship into Jebel Ali, then air via DXB/DWC to Europe/Africa), - A central point for overland services used to bypass Red Sea risk during the crisis and its aftermath.([seatrade-maritime.com](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/jebel-ali-records-highest-cargo-volumes-since-2015?utm_source=openai)) - Analysts note that as/when Red Sea risks ease further, carriers are likely to **re‑concentrate more volume through Suez but still lean on Gulf hubs like Jebel Ali to re‑sync schedules**, implying continued elevated transshipment activity in Dubai even under a partial normalization scenario.([reactmediauae.com](https://reactmediauae.com/en/2026/02/03/uae-logistics-ports-red-sea-risks-2026/?utm_source=openai)) **Air freight via Dubai in 2026** - **Dubai International Airport (DXB)** handled **2.2 million tonnes of air cargo in 2024**, confirming its status as one of the world’s top international cargo hubs; continued growth into 2025–26 is widely reported but not yet in final audited numbers.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_International_Airport?utm_source=openai)) - Regional analysis in 2026 notes **Arab airlines account for ~15% of global air cargo capacity**, and that Middle East air cargo is facing: - **Higher fuel costs and surcharges**, - **Rising rates on Asia–EU cargo transshipped in the Middle East**, - Some **capacity reduction on certain carriers**, which tightens space and pushes up rates.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Sea–air and air–sea solutions through Dubai have become structurally more important since the first Red Sea crisis; Maersk and others continue to use **Jebel Ali + DXB/DWC combinations** for time‑sensitive flows.([seatrade-maritime.com](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/jebel-ali-records-highest-cargo-volumes-since-2015?utm_source=openai)) **Market impact on UAE‑based freight forwarders** - 2026 commentary on UAE logistics emphasizes: - **Higher operational complexity** (multi‑port routings, more truck/rail legs, greater dwell in UAE hubs). - Ongoing **emergency surcharges, bunker adjustment factors (BAFs)**, and war‑risk premiums baked into freight quotations.([dahnay.com](https://www.dahnay.com/newsroom/blog/uae-logistics-hubs-and-port-compliance-2026?utm_source=openai)) - Forwarders increasingly steering shippers to **“total landed cost”** analysis rather than just base ocean rate, because inland legs and surcharges now represent a larger share of the cost to Middle East/Gulf destinations.([dahnay.com](https://www.dahnay.com/newsroom/blog/uae-logistics-hubs-and-port-compliance-2026?utm_source=openai)) Overall implication: in 2026 the UAE—particularly Dubai/Jebel Ali plus DXB/DWC—functions less as a simple throughput gateway and more as a **network shock‑absorber** for Asia–Middle East–Africa–Europe trades, with structurally higher transshipment, more complex routings, and elevated cost volatility. **Sources (Market Events):** ([ports.marinelink.com](https://ports.marinelink.com/ports/port/cairo/news/red-sea-diversions-strain-global-supply-chains-q2-2026?utm_source=openai)) === 2. [DEMAND SIGNALS] – UAE FOOD & AGRI IMPORT DEMAND 2026, RE‑EXPORT FROM DUBAI TO MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA === **Structural role of UAE/Dubai as a food & agri re‑export hub** - UAE is a **net food importer** with limited arable land; imports a wide range of food staples (grains, rice, meat, F&B, fruit & vegetables) for both **domestic consumption and re‑export**.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates?utm_source=openai)) - Dubai in particular is described in 2026 commentary as a **default gateway for serving Africa, the Middle East and South Asia**, due to its free zones, simplified customs, and connectivity via Jebel Ali + Dubai airports.([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_Top_Inside9100/comments/1srfq5r/why_2026_global_supply_chain_shifts_favor_the_uae/?utm_source=openai)) **Recent trade and demand indicators (where data is available)** (Official 2025–26 disaggregated food import statistics are still limited in open sources; below combines structural data with 2024–26 qualitative signals.) - UAE total imports of goods were around **USD 229bn in 2017** and have grown substantially since; food and beverages remain a core import category listed alongside gold, machinery, and vehicles.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates?utm_source=openai)) - Various 2024–25 reports (not all specific to food) describe the UAE as: - Among the **top re‑exporters globally**, with **re‑exports making up ~45–50% of its total exports** in recent years (directional figure from policy and WTO reporting; exact 2025 share not yet published). - A regional consolidation point for **FMCG and food & beverages destined for GCC, Levant, East Africa and parts of West Africa**.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates?utm_source=openai)) **2026 demand signals specifically tied to Middle East & Africa** - A Q1‑2026 regional logistics outlook notes that container shipping to and from the Middle East is: - Focused strongly on **consumer goods for intra‑Middle East consumption**, including **FMCG, food and beverages, electrical appliances**, etc. - Experiencing **rising freight costs to the Persian Gulf** due to oil and surcharges, but **continued volume growth**, especially for **India–Middle East–Africa corridors**.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - This supports the view that **UAE import demand for food and grocery items remains resilient in 2026**, even as costs rise, because: - GCC demand is largely income‑insensitive at staple level, - Dubai‐based re‑exporters are serving fast‑growing populations in **Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen (where possible), East Africa (e.g., Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), and West Africa** via hub‑and‑spoke routes.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Commentary on 2026 supply‑chain shifts toward the UAE emphasizes that **as global manufacturers look to “friend‑shore” or diversify away from single‑market dependence, they are using Dubai as a regional distribution center (RDC)** to test demand in African and Middle Eastern markets—this includes **processed foods, dairy, beverages and specialty ingredients**.([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_Top_Inside9100/comments/1srfq5r/why_2026_global_supply_chain_shifts_favor_the_uae/?utm_source=openai)) **Modal and routing choices affecting food & agri demand flows via Dubai** - The 2026 Hormuz/Red Sea disruptions have: - Increased landed costs and lead times, but - Not materially reduced aggregate demand; rather they have **shifted some high‑value, time‑sensitive food categories (e.g., chilled meat, high‑value perishables, specialty ingredients) toward air or sea–air via Dubai**.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Sea‑air flows through Dubai increasingly handle **electronics, pharma and cold‑chain food** moving between Asia and Europe/Africa; food is explicitly cited as a category utilizing these transshipment combinations.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) **Implications for 2026 food & agri volume outlook in UAE/Dubai** - Underlying macro‑drivers—population growth in GCC and Africa, tourism recovery in UAE, and growth in foodservice—are expected to keep **UAE food imports on a mid‑single to high‑single digit annual growth path** through 2026, even though official forecasts differ by source. (This rate is consistent with pre‑2020 historical growth patterns of 5–8% p.a.; current 2026‑specific numeric forecasts are scarce but qualitative outlooks consistently describe growth as “robust” or “solid”.)([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates?utm_source=openai)) - For **re‑exports**, two forces are in tension in 2026: - **Positive**: stronger structural shift of regional distribution to UAE hubs, more manufacturers setting up Dubai‑based RDCs; - **Negative**: higher freight costs and longer transit times to certain African destinations due to Cape routings or feeder complexity. - Net effect in most reports is **continued expansion of UAE’s role as a regional food/FMCG hub**, but with tighter margins for traders and greater emphasis on consolidation and scale.([dahnay.com](https://www.dahnay.com/newsroom/blog/uae-logistics-hubs-and-port-compliance-2026?utm_source=openai)) Where you likely have to fill with proprietary data: hard 2025/26 breakdowns of UAE food & agri import volumes (tonnes, USD) and the re‑export share by destination are not yet widely available in open web sources; those usually come from paywalled customs/trade databases or internal UAE government statistics. **Sources (Demand Signals):** ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates?utm_source=openai)) === 3. [TIMING SIGNALS] – 2026 FREIGHT RATE & CAPACITY OUTLOOK (MIDDLE EAST CONTAINER & AIR), RED SEA/SUEZ & NORMALIZATION EFFECTS === **Current 2026 rate levels vs 2025 and pre‑crisis** - A Q1‑2026 logistics report shows **Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI)** and lane‑level changes since early 2025: - Overall SCFI up **~28% vs Jan 2025**. - Rates to the **Persian Gulf up ~150% vs Jan 2025**, reflecting war‑risk and fuel‑cost pass‑through into Middle East lanes. - Europe, ASEAN, and US West Coast lanes up **c. 6–15%** in the same comparison.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - A Q1‑2026 ocean market report notes that compared with the **late‑2025 trough**, early 2026 saw: - A **rate rebound** as Red Sea/Hormuz shocks tightened capacity, - But overall global container rates remain **well below the extreme peaks of 2023–24** and more in line with an elevated but not crisis‑level market.([bertling.com](https://www.bertling.com/news-pool/market/ocean-freight-market-report-april-2026/?utm_source=openai)) - Reddit‑aggregated freight benchmarks (citing industry sources and Reuters) indicate that as of late March/April 2026: - Some major lanes have seen **spot rate increases of USD 400–600 per FEU** over March lows, - Air freight from China has jumped from around **USD 4.50–5.50/kg to ~USD 7.00/kg**, driven largely by fuel and capacity effects.([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/FreightRight/comments/1s2qic5/ocean_rates_up_as_volumes_continue_to_sink/?utm_source=openai)) **2026–27 container freight rate scenarios with Red Sea/Suez uncertainty** - An S&P Global 2026 ocean freight outlook sets up two scenarios: 1. **Reopening / stabilization scenario:** Suez usage gradually normalizes, capacity constraints ease, and **average global contract rates in 2026 drift 10–20% lower** than 2025, though still above pre‑COVID baselines because of higher structural operating costs. 2. **Renewed disruption scenario:** Continued or renewed Middle East conflict keeps Cape routings in place, holding rates at **elevated levels vs 2025 by mid‑single to low‑double digits** on east–west trades.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/2026-ocean-freight-outlook-softer-rates-ahead-but-volatility-is-not-going-anywhere?utm_source=openai)) - A January 2026 shipping outlook (Maritime Gateway) similarly suggests that **average container freight rates in 2026 could remain above 2025** if Red Sea instability persists, by preventing a full return of tonnage to Suez and keeping effective capacity tight.([maritimegateway.com](https://www.maritimegateway.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MG-Jan-2026-issue-Digital-Version.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - By Q1‑2026, multiple sources emphasize **high volatility and scenario risk**, advising shippers and forwarders not to rely on a single price outlook for the year but to plan with **bands/contingency ranges**.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/2026-ocean-freight-outlook-softer-rates-ahead-but-volatility-is-not-going-anywhere?utm_source=openai)) **Middle East / UAE‑specific timing and capacity signals** - The same Q1‑2026 economic outlook highlights that **freight rates to the Persian Gulf are rising faster and from a lower base than to most other regions**, reflecting: - War‑risk surcharges linked to Hormuz and Red Sea, - Longer routings and bunkering costs, - Some **withdrawal of services or schedule blankings**, tightening available capacity.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - However, Oxford Economics data cited in April 2026 notes that **only ~3% of global containerized freight transits the Strait of Hormuz**, so while Middle East lanes are locally disrupted and more expensive, global container balances remain relatively comfortable versus energy markets.([czapp.com](https://www.czapp.com/analyst-insights/shipping-resilience-tested-as-middle-east-instability-persists/?utm_source=openai)) - Forward‑looking carrier and analyst commentary suggests: - **Q2–Q3 2026**: Base case of **rates plateauing or easing slightly** from Q1 spikes if no fresh escalation occurs, but staying above early‑2025 lows. - **Late 2026–2027**: If Suez usage climbs back toward pre‑crisis 70–80% share and fuel prices stabilize, Middle East lanes could see **single‑digit percentage declines from 2026 peaks**, though not a full reversion to pre‑2020 pricing.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/2026-ocean-freight-outlook-softer-rates-ahead-but-volatility-is-not-going-anywhere?utm_source=openai)) **Air cargo capacity and rate outlook (Middle East & Dubai)** - Regional economic outlooks report that: - Air cargo serving the Middle East is pressured by **reduced capacity from Arab airlines (which hold ~15% of global air cargo share)** combined with high fuel prices. - Freight rates on Asia–EU cargo that transships in the Middle East—where Dubai plays a key role—are **rising as higher oil prices are gradually passed through to shippers**.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Forward‑looking guides for 2026 freight markets see: - **Air rates remaining elevated vs 2024**, especially on high‑demand lanes (China–Middle East, Asia–EU via ME hubs), - Some normalization possible into 2027 if passenger capacity (bellyhold) continues to rebuild and fuel moderates, but **persistent premium over 2018–19 levels** is expected.([gocubic.io](https://www.gocubic.io/guides/market-intelligence/2026-freight-market-outlook?utm_source=openai)) **Practical timing take‑aways for 2026 UAE/Middle East freight** - Multiple 2026 logistics briefs advise: - Planning **3–4 weeks in advance** for Asia‑related container shipments given schedule volatility and rolling risk.([bertling.com](https://www.bertling.com/news-pool/market/ocean-freight-market-report-april-2026/?utm_source=openai)) - Expecting **variable transit times** on Suez/Cape‑sensitive lanes and building more inventory at Gulf hubs like Dubai to buffer against slips.([reactmediauae.com](https://reactmediauae.com/en/2026/02/03/uae-logistics-ports-red-sea-risks-2026/?utm_source=openai)) - For air and sea–air via Dubai, budgeting for **significant fuel‑related surcharges and higher spot‑rate volatility** at least through the 2026 peak season, with some easing only if Middle East geopolitical tensions de‑escalate and oil prices retreat.([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai)) In summary, 2026 looks like a **transition year**: global freight markets are past the extreme peaks, but for Middle East–linked lanes (and especially UAE/Dubai), **elevated rates, schedule risk, and capacity tightness tied to Red Sea/Hormuz risks are likely to persist through at least Q4‑2026**, with more meaningful normalization not expected until 2027 under a benign geopolitical scenario. **Sources (Timing Signals):** ([scbeic.com](https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/file/product/10057/hhos8zastn/Outlook-1Q26-FullReport-EN-20260417.pdf?utm_source=openai))