The ongoing Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerian air freight operators, with some reporting higher outbound cargo rates while others say their prices have remained unchanged.

Operators said disruptions to global aviation networks since the crisis began on February 28 have affected cargo shipments differently, depending on the routes they operate and the logistics agents they work with, according to Nairameteics.

While some logistics firms say they have raised outbound cargo rates, even for destinations outside the Middle East, others report that prices for key routes such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have remained largely stable.

Some Nigerian air freight operators who spoke to Nairametrics said the Middle East conflict has affected outbound cargo rates differently depending on the routes they serve and the logistics agents they work with.

A logistics professional at Mayckles Cargo Logistics, Peace Azagba, said the crisis has compelled his company to raise outbound cargo charges following tariff adjustments by airlines and courier companies.

He said the adjustments were driven by disruptions linked to the conflict, which forced the company to transfer part of the added costs to customers.

He added that flights and courier services to the Middle East have been suspended for now, affecting shipments bound for the region.

“We usually ship at reasonable rates depending on the volume of shipment, but since the crisis started, courier services have increased their tariffs,” Azagba said.

“Because of that, our company had to increase our outbound cargo rates by about 30 per cent.”

Azagba also recalled instances where shipments destined for the Middle East had to be withdrawn. He said he had twice retrieved cargo meant for Qatar due to demurrage, highlighting the operational challenges that have emerged since the crisis began.

In contrast, another operator based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, who declined to be named, said the crisis has had little impact on his business so far.

He said his main markets are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and shipments to these destinations have continued at the same rates as before the conflict.

According to him, the larger cargo agent through whom he processes his shipments has not adjusted its charges since the crisis began.

“The agent we send through has not reviewed their rates since the crisis started, so our charges are still the same. As of Thursday, March 12, the rates I pay are still what they were before the crisis began,” he said.

Azagba said he currently charges N16,000 per kilogram for shipments to the United States, N7,900 per kilogram to the United Kingdom, and between N18,000 and N19,000 per kilogram to Canada.

Perishable goods to these destinations typically cost between N8,000 and N9,000 per kilogram.

He added that the Middle East has never been a major destination for his shipments, which has limited the direct impact of the conflict on his operations.

A Lagos resident who recently sent food items to a relative in London reported a similar experience.

The resident, who said he typically sends packages abroad about once every six months, shipped a parcel on Tuesday, March 10, and was charged N9,000 per kilogram—about the same rate he had paid before the crisis began.

The ongoing Middle East conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran has triggered widespread travel and aviation disruptions, with ripple effects across global air freight networks.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the disruptions have resulted in a daily loss of about $600 million in international visitor spending in the Middle East.

Before the conflict, the region was projected to generate about $207 billion in international visitor spending in 2026, underscoring the scale of the potential economic setback.

Airlines and airports have also had to adjust operations amid the uncertainty.

British Airways suspended flights to Abu Dhabi and several other Middle Eastern destinations, while Emirates temporarily halted operations in Dubai on March 7 before partially resuming services later the same day.