Redington turns to air freight as Gulf conflict disrupts sea routes

Indian IT goods distributor Redington has sharply increased its use of air freight to keep products moving into the Middle East as conflict in the region disrupts sea routes and weighs on supply and demand, a top executive said.

Air freight rates have surged since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began at the end ‌of February, ⁠as ⁠higher fuel costs and disrupted sea shipments squeeze capacity.

“A good chunk of the product used to come by sea and a smaller chunk by air. A lot of it has moved by air because the Strait of Hormuz is closed,” VS Hariharan, managing director and group CEO, told Reuters on Thursday.