Karachi Port Trust has closed the 2025-26 financial year with the busiest twelve months in its 138-year history. It handled more than 54.6 million tonnes of cargo, beating the old record from 2017-18, and more than 2.65 million TEU of containers, also a record.
Behind both numbers is the same story. When the US–Iran war started in February and the Strait of Hormuz became dangerous, shipping lines started avoiding the Gulf hubs they had used for years. Some of that cargo came to Karachi instead.
How the year built up
The change was fast. Karachi Port Trust data showed the port handling 8,313 transshipment containers in just 24 days in March, a little more than it handled in all of 2025. The Pakistan Ship's Agents Association put the split at roughly 75% of the diverted cargo through Karachi Port and 25% through Port Qasim, which also set its own records from March onwards.
The government moved quickly too. Transshipment rules were relaxed, off-dock terminals were allowed to handle transshipment boxes, and for the first time Pakistan approved transshipment of bulk and break-bulk cargo such as grain, coal and minerals, plus Ro-Ro vehicles. Karachi Port even kept working through Eid ul Fitr, a first for the port.
Is it here to stay?
Opinions differ. Mohammad Rajpar, chairman of the Pakistan Ship's Agents Association, said in April that even if the war ended the next day, the old routes would need at least three months to recover. Karachi-based shipping analyst Aasim Siddiqui thinks the effects could last four to five years, and calls it a chance to turn a temporary boom into a permanent business, if the ports can stay efficient and keep costs down.
There is room to grow. By Rajpar's figures, Pakistani ports handle around 3.8 million containers a year against capacity of about 6 million.
What it means if you ship through Karachi
Mostly good news, with some catches.
- More ships, more choice. Extra calls and feeder services mean more sailing options in and out of Karachi and Port Qasim than a year ago.
- Busier yards. Record volume means more pressure on berths, yards and customs. A container with a document problem now waits behind far more boxes than it used to. Getting the paperwork right the first time matters more than ever.
- The Gulf leg is still the risk. Cargo that moves through Jebel Ali or other Gulf ports still carries war-risk costs and delays, even though direct Pakistan cargo has largely escaped them.
If you want to know how the extra services change your options on a particular route, ask us. We can compare the direct and transshipment options for your cargo.
For more background, see our earlier piece on how the Hormuz crisis turned Karachi into a transshipment hub.
Quick answers
How much cargo did Karachi Port handle in FY2025-26?
More than 54.6 million tonnes, the highest in the port's history, plus a record of over 2.65 million TEU of containers.
Why did Karachi's cargo jump in 2026?
Shipping lines diverted cargo away from Gulf hubs after the US–Iran war disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, and the government relaxed transshipment rules to attract it.
Does more traffic mean delays at Karachi?
It can. Yards and customs are busier, so a container with incomplete or incorrect documents is more likely to sit. Clean paperwork before arrival is the best protection.
Sources: Arab News Pakistan · Anadolu Agency · Arab News Pakistan (transshipment rules) · 24 News HD