The war in Iran is accelerating Egypt-Italy trade

The war in Iran and tensions on Gulf trade routes are accelerating the search for alternative logistics corridors between Europe and the Middle East, with Italy strengthening its role as a hub. In this context, evaluations are underway to add a second vessel to the Ro-Ro line connecting the port of Trieste to the Egyptian port of Damietta. Sources report this. "Nova Agency", underlining the strong growth in demand for freight transport along this route.

According to the same sources, the timing for upgrading the route is currently being studied. It represents one of the main alternatives for trade flows between Europe and the Gulf countries at a time marked by regional instability and critical issues along traditional maritime routes. The Trieste-Damietta line, inaugurated in November 2024, enables the rapid transport of goods, particularly agricultural and perishable products, via trucks, including refrigerated trucks, reducing time and costs compared to other routes. The corridor also allows for the partial circumvention of vulnerabilities linked to the Red Sea and tensions in the Gulf, strengthening the resilience of supply chains.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian port of Damietta continues to see a steady flow of European goods bound for Gulf markets. Today, 16 trucks arrived, carrying approximately 295 tons of goods, including food and paint, confirming the regularity of operations and growing demand along the route. At the end of March, the Damietta Port Authority also announced the launch of a new transit service for refrigerated and non-refrigerated goods to Gulf countries, based on the same Ro-Ro line. The system integrates operational incentives, customs concessions, and a digital platform shared between ports and authorities, enabling the rapid exchange of data and documents, improving the overall efficiency of the logistics chain.