Kuwait Customs reroute cargo via land routes; vital supplies flow continues amid disruptions

KUWAIT CITY : Kuwait’s General Administration of Customs has implemented emergency measures to safeguard supply chains and ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods, rerouting air cargo through neighboring Gulf and Arab countries and transporting them by land.

The move comes as authorities work to maintain market stability and food security following disruptions to air traffic. Officials confirmed that since the onset of the regional escalation, customs has activated and continuously updated its emergency plan to prevent any interruption in the movement of goods across all ports.

During a media briefing on Sunday, customs spokesperson Raed Al-Mathkour said commercial shipments originally destined for air transport are now being redirected and delivered via trucks through land ports from GCC and neighboring Arab nations. He stressed that goods continue to arrive steadily, while procedures for shipments that had reached seaports prior to the crisis are being expedited to maintain local market supplies and strategic reserves.

Despite operational challenges and heightened risks—particularly at southern seaports and airports—customs operations are continuing around the clock, except during temporary evacuations ordered by security authorities in high-risk situations.

Between February 28 and March 21, Kuwait cleared substantial volumes of essential imports, including approximately 417 tons of medicines, 103,775 tons of food, and 24,400 tons of vegetables, underscoring the effectiveness of the emergency logistics plan.