The war in Iran suddenly complicated the transport of Ferraris to the Gulf, by closing the door to the Strait of Hormuz. But in Maranello, a costly and very targeted parade was imagined so as not to upset customers from the Middle East.
The war in Iran does not only affect oil tankers and container ships. It is also shaking up the luxury automobile industry. The conflict has seriously disrupted traffic around the Strait of Hormuz, a compulsory passage for ships to the Gulf. Car carriers loaded with very high-end models have seen their routes closed or become more complicated. For brands that rely on customers from Dubai, Doha or Riyadh, the situation has changed. The region is no longer the usual royal road. The market remains rich, but the delivery of cars is becoming a real logistical equation.
In this context,
Ferrari has been one of the most exposed manufacturers in the Middle East. On March 19, 2026, the Italian group announced that it was temporarily suspending the majority of its deliveries to the region. The cause put forward is the war in Iranaccording to the agency Reuters. The manufacturer specified that it was only maintaining a small number of very targeted deliveries. They are transported by plane rather than by boat. At the same time, it began repurposing cars intended for the Gulf to other markets. This is what the manufacturer explains
Ferrari in its financial communication. Behind these decisions lies a simple strategy: protect key customers and preserve accounts.
War in Iran: Ferrari almost cuts off the Middle East tap
The crux of the problem lies at the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic crossing point. Restrictions linked to the conflict have disrupted the access of ships carrying vehicles to Gulf ports. These elements are reported by the economic site
ETAuto. The same media indicates that personalization represents approximately 20% of automobile revenues.
Ferrari. Car carriers leaving Europe sometimes have to significantly extend their journey, or wait far from the coast. For a niche builder like
Ferrarievery rotation counts. The models are often already sold before they are even produced. The Middle East remains a small market in volume, but very heavy in value.
Ferrari Purosangue
” width=”768″ height=”432″>
© FerrariOn the aesthetic side, the Purosangue Handling Speciale is distinguished by rims with specific finishes, carbon fiber elements and some exterior details in matte or satin black.
However, Gulf customers are crazy about these tailor-made configurations, billed at a high price. This is one of the reasons why the brand initially paused most deliveries. She still kept some airmail shipments to the region. The announcement of this suspension weighed on the action on the Milan Stock Exchange, according to Reuters. In the area, the brand claims to have kept its dealerships open and organized more than 500 recent tests.
Cargo planes, reallocation and full book: the Ferrari parade
The most spectacular solution was the use of planes to deliver certain cars already ordered.
Ferrari admitted to maintaining only a few deliveries by air, targeted at very personalized models. According to market data cited by
ETAutoair freight between Europe and West Asia reaches around $2.96 per kilo. This represents almost 2.75 euros for a kilo transported. This cost would now be approximately 66% higher than before the conflict. As a result, sending a car by plane is four to five times more expensive than by ship. On cars billed for several hundred thousand euros, the maneuver nevertheless remains absorbable.
The rest of the answer lies in the figures and the order book. In the first quarter of 2026, Ferrari delivered 3,436 cars, a decrease of 4.4% year-on-year. However, its turnover has increased to around 1.85 billion euros. Net profit remained close to 413 million. These figures are provided by AFP. The brand explains this situation by a change in range. It also highlights the flexibility of its geographic allocation. Concretely, a car that no longer goes to the Middle East can be offered more quickly elsewhere. For example, it can go to a customer in Asia or America. The group claims a full order book until the end of 2027. It is also counting on new models, such as the Amalfi coupe and the future electric Luce. Another challenge, however, looms in the United States, where Washington wants to increase customs duties to 25%, according to Al Jazeera. This increase would mainly target high-end European cars produced in Europe, including those of Ferrari.
