Treetop General presents its trade brief for Monday, 12 October 2026.
The key news: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted. Over the weekend a supertanker reportedly hit a mine, and missile strikes hit Riyadh’s main airport. In response to the blockage, Iraq expects to start moving crude oil by truck to Syria’s Mediterranean coast from mid-October. Iraqi fuel oil has already moved by road to Syria since April, and petrol imports through Syria began in late September.
What it means for our customers: Road corridors between Iraq, Syria and the Mediterranean are becoming busier and better organised. For timber and panels bound for Iraq, that can mean more routing options, but also more competition for trucks.
Example: If a 40-foot container of plywood worth $18,000 takes 10 extra days on a longer route, and your financing cost is 1% a month, the delay adds about $60 in carrying cost, before any extra freight. (Figures are illustrative.)
Advice for partners: Ask for at least two routing quotes, sea plus road, on every order. Confirm who carries war-risk and delay costs before you sign. Keep two to three weeks of extra stock for fast-moving panels.
The honest caution: New corridors can change quickly with security conditions. Delivery dates in this period are estimates, not guarantees.
Treetop General — the right wood, the right route.
