LONDON: The geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East have forced shipping lines into substantial network redesign. As a result, while ports in the impacted regions have lost liner connectivity, ports in the adjoining regions have picked up that slack. Data from UNCTAD’s Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index shows this connectivity growth across these alternative ports in 2026‑Q3, compared to the pre‑crisis baseline – the first full quarter before the disruptions started (2023‑Q3 for the Red Sea crisis and 2025‑Q4 for the Strait of Hormuz closure).Because of the significant transit time penalties for vessels sailing . . .