Backdoor routes emerge as Iran crisis disrupts timber supply chains

The Iran crisis is increasingly weighing on the timber sector, with disruptions to Gulf supply routes feeding directly into higher costs, weaker flows and shifting price dynamics across both exporting and destination markets. The closure and instability around the Strait of Hormuz have forced a near-complete restructuring of logistics into the Gulf. Deliveries that previously moved through established hubs are now rerouted, often involving multiple handling stages, transhipment points and overland transport. Initial “backdoor” supply routes are beginning to emerge. One of the key bottlenecks is the Saudi port of Jeddah, where limited volumes of sawn timber ...