India Automakers Delay Mideast Shipments as Iran War Snarls Exports

A clutch of Indian automakers is delaying shipments to the Middle East and North Africa, people familiar with the matter said, as escalating regional tensions upend sea routes and drive up freight costs.

With the US and Israel’s war on Iran entering the sixth day, companies including Tata Motors Ltd., Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Hyundai Motor India Ltd., and the local unit of Volkswagen AG are deferring dispatches of cars and commercial vehicles, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is not public. The intent is to avoid emergency shipping surcharges of as much as $2,000 per container and war-risk insurance premiums as container availability becomes strained, they added.