Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The Yemeni Minister of Transport, Mohsen Haidara al-Amri, stated today, Saturday, that the ministry is closely monitoring the challenges facing the commercial and maritime sector, affirming its rejection of additional fees imposed on containers bound for Yemeni ports under the label of “war risk.”
Al-Amri explained in a post on his Facebook page that the Ministry of Transport has followed up on complaints submitted by importers and merchants regarding the imposition of additional fees reaching approximately $3,000 per container, considering that these fees lack logical or realistic justification.
He added that the ministry has issued a circular to all shipping lines and agents mandating the categorical rejection of any additional amounts imposed on goods arriving at Yemeni ports, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to professional standards in dealing with shipping and trade movements.
The Minister of Transport pointed out that Yemeni ports remain far from areas of geopolitical tension in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which makes imposing fees under the name of “war risk” in safe areas an unjustified measure from an operational or security standpoint.
He also confirmed the ministry’s rejection of imposing these fees on goods that had already arrived at the ports before the date of March 2, 2026, explaining that this constitutes an additional burden on importers and merchants, which ultimately reflects in higher commodity prices for citizens.
Al-Amri noted that the ministry values its partnership with international shipping lines, but at the same time, it has insisted on stopping the collection of these fees immediately, especially on shipments that have already arrived, stressing that the ministry will strictly monitor the implementation of this directive.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Transport will not allow Yemeni ports to become an arena for imposing illegal financial burdens that increase the suffering of citizens, noting that the ministry’s doors are open to discuss any difficulties that ships and shipping lines may face and to work on overcoming them.
Al-Amri concluded by saying that protecting the national economy begins with protecting the rights of importers, affirming that the ministry will take all necessary legal and administrative measures to ensure the stability of the maritime transport sector and promote a commercial environment based on transparency and justice.
