Israel may face supply problems with popular goods
Due to tensions with Iran and logistical constraints in Omani ports, Israel may face shortages and price increases for basic products. The refusal of the Port of Salalah to accept transit containers and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt supplies of sesame, tahini, coffee, and cocoa. Manufacturers, including Ahva and Sugat, are managing for now with existing stocks, but a prolonged crisis threatens higher production costs and targeted shortages. Importers and the Foreign Ministry are seeking alternative routes via Egypt and Cyprus.
Due to tensions with Iran and logistical constraints in Omani ports, Israel may face shortages and price increases for basic products. The refusal of the Port of Salalah (Oman) to accept transit containers bound for Israel has blocked the main route for East African raw materials, particularly sesame and coffee beans from Ethiopia, which are shipped via Djibouti. The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has made the alternative route through UAE ports nearly inaccessible, with shipping reduced to a few sailings per day. Rerouting cargo flows requires additional costs for insurance, transshipment, and longer delivery legs. The main impact falls on the production of tahini, one of the staple foods in the Israeli diet. Major manufacturers such as Ahva and Sugat (which produces Al-Arz tahini) warn that they are managing for now with existing raw material stocks, but a prolonged crisis will inevitably lead to higher production costs and possible targeted shortages on store shelves. Similar risks persist for coffee and cocoa markets. Israeli importers and relevant authorities are considering options to restructure supply chains: rerouting containers via Egypt and Cyprus, with subsequent delivery to Israel's Mediterranean ports. Israel's Foreign Ministry is attempting to resolve the transit issue with Oman, but political cooling between the countries complicates negotiations. In the short term, a complete disappearance of goods is not expected, but the main risk is the rise in logistics costs, which will affect retail prices.