Shipping Disruptions to the Middle East- Operational Updates

Recent developments in the Middle East have led to the sudden closure of several major air corridors and transit hubs. We would like to provide an update on how this situation may affect parcels currently stored in our warehouse, as well as shipments that are being returned by carriers.

Courier services may introduce temporary suspensions or operational restrictions with limited notice as logistics routes continue to change.

Customers in affected destinations may experience shipping delays, suspensions, or returned parcels depending on the carrier's conditions.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue updating this page as new information becomes available.

Storage Accommodations Update (Update: May 18th, 2026)

Previously, both storage fees and standard storage time limits (with items typically disposed of after 90 days) were fully waived until April 9th, 2026, for clients located in the following destinations:

• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates

This measure was introduced as a temporary response to ongoing logistics disruptions and remained subject to change depending on the situation.

These conditions will be revised as follows:

For the following destination the waiver has been lifted on April 10th, 2026:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Israel
• Egypt
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Turkey

The waiver on storage fees and automatic disposal of overdue items for clients in Kuwait and Bahrain will be lifted on May 29th, 2026.

From that date onward, standard storage policies will resume, including the 90-day storage limit, after which items will be disposed of accordingly.

Japan Post Returns (Regional & Global Impact)

Japan Post has begun returning parcels shipped earlier this month. Because international mail relies on specific global transit hubs, disruptions in the Middle East are affecting routes far beyond the region.

While the most significant impact is currently seen for Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, we are also seeing returned shipments for other destinations such as Norway, Ghana, and Mozambique due to air corridor closures. In addition, there is currently no prospect of resuming deliveries to Armenia, Qatar, Israel, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Cyprus, and these destinations are presently designated for parcel return.

Meanwhile, shipping to Bahrain, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Oman has resumed.

Returned parcels are checked back into our warehouse as they arrive. Once processed, customers will receive a notification through their ZenMarket account indicating that the parcel is ready for its next step.

Your Immediate Options

Given the unpredictability of global logistics conditions, we encourage customers to review their current shipments and consider the following options:

• Evaluate alternative carriers: Use our Shipping Calculator to see if other carriers, such as DHL or FedEx, are currently servicing your destination, as their routes may differ from Japan Post.
• Update your shipping method: If an alternative option is available, you can change your shipping preference directly in the “Parcels” tab of your account.
• Reroute or wait: If no shipping methods are currently available for your destination, you may contact Customer Support to discuss shipping to a different address. Otherwise, your items will remain safely stored under the current waiver conditions.

Current Carrier Status (as of June 29th, 2026)

Conclusion

We understand that these disruptions may cause inconvenience for customers in affected regions. Our team is closely monitoring carrier updates and regional developments.

We will continue to post updates as soon as new information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding and continued trust in ZenMarket.