Lithium Battery Shipping Restrictions to the Middle East in 2026

Lithium battery shipping to the Middle East has been suspended or restricted across multiple major carriers as of April 2026, affecting Australian businesses shipping to the region. 

UPS confirmed a temporary service suspension of all lithium battery shipments classified under UN3481 Section II and UN3091 Section II from Asia Pacific to selected Middle Eastern destinations, effective 21 April 2026 and until further notice.

   

        

   

     

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Summary: What Australian Shippers Need to Know About Middle East Lithium Battery Restrictions

• UPS Suspension: Effective 21 April 2026, UPS suspended all lithium battery shipments (UN3481 Section II and UN3091 Section II) from Asia Pacific to several Middle Eastern countries due to regional service impacts.
• Affected Classifications: The restrictions specifically target UN3481 and UN3091 Section II materials, which typically include batteries packed with or contained in equipment.
• Partial Resumption: Pickup services have resumed for some Middle Eastern destinations where compliant routing is available, though these remain subject to transit delays.
• Transit Delays: Shippers should expect a temporary transit delay of at least one additional business day for shipments originating from the Asia Pacific region.
• Carrier Variations: Other major carriers, including FedEx and DHL, have applied their own restrictions or alternative routing through hubs like Dubai and Riyadh to manage regional volatility.
• Ocean Freight Impact: Major ocean carriers such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have suspended certain transits through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting the acceptance of dangerous goods cargo.

Australian businesses comparing international air freight options can check carrier availability through Couriers & Freight.

Which Carriers Have Suspended Lithium Battery Shipments to the Middle East?

Restrictions on lithium battery shipping to the Middle East currently vary by carrier, destination country, and routing availability. The following information is drawn from carrier advisories and official service update pages. 

UPS

UPS implemented a temporary suspension of all lithium battery shipments classified under UN3481 Section II and UN3091 Section II from Asia Pacific to selected destinations effective 21 April 2026. This suspension remains in place until further notice as teams monitor the situation.

UPS also confirmed that pickup services have resumed for destinations where compliant routing options are available. However, shipments originating from Asia Pacific are subject to a transit delay of at least one additional business day.

FedEx

FedEx issued Middle East service alerts relating to operational disruptions and occasional flight cancellations affecting international shipments. While some services have resumed, FedEx advises customers to verify destination-level acceptance and current transit conditions before booking lithium battery shipments to affected countries. 

DHL

DHL resumed selected Middle East services after implementing alternative routing arrangements across affected air corridors. DHL advises customers that airspace restrictions and network congestion may result in delivery delays for shipments transiting through the region. 

Ocean Freight Carriers

Ocean freight carriers, including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, and Ocean Network Express, issued service advisories relating to Gulf routing disruptions and dangerous goods acceptance conditions. Several carriers also introduced alternative routings or temporary restrictions for dangerous goods cargo, including lithium batteries, that are moving through Gulf-connected trade lanes. 

Which Countries Are Currently Affected?

The following country lists are drawn from the UPS advisory dated 23 April 2026. Country lists differ between carriers, and businesses should verify their specific destination against each carrier's current advisory.

Countries where UPS has suspended lithium battery services (UN3481 Section II and UN3091 Section II):

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, UAE, Yemen, and Zambia. 

Countries where UPS has resumed pickup services (with transit delay of at least one additional business day for Asia Pacific shipments):

Angola, Burundi, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Israel, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe. 

Note: FedEx's suspension as of March 2026 covered Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, and Yemen. Do not treat these lists as interchangeable.

What Do UN3481 and UN3091 Mean for Your Shipment?

These two UN codes identify the specific types of lithium batteries affected by the current carrier suspensions.

UN3481 covers lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment. This includes rechargeable lithium-ion batteries shipped alongside the device they power, such as a laptop shipped with a spare battery pack or a power tool shipped with its battery unit.

UN3091 covers lithium metal batteries packed with equipment. Lithium metal batteries are non-rechargeable and are commonly found in products such as cameras, medical devices, and industrial instruments, where the battery is shipped alongside the device rather than installed inside it.

Under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, Section II applies to lower-quantity shipments that fall within specific watt-hour and weight limits per package. Section II shipments are generally permitted on passenger aircraft, which makes the current suspension notable because carriers are declining cargo that would ordinarily clear standard air freight requirements.

Book an Alternative International Freight Route Through Couriers & Freight

With UPS suspending services to a confirmed list of Middle Eastern destinations and other carriers facing significant delay risks, Australian businesses need a clear view of which international shipping options remain available. Checking carrier status individually is time-consuming when service conditions are changing week to week.

Couriers & Freight gives Australian businesses access to multiple international air freight and express courier carriers through a single platform. Freight managers can identify which carriers are currently accepting lithium battery cargo to their destination country, compare options, and book in one place.

To compare current international air freight options for your lithium battery shipment to the Middle East, get a quote through Couriers & Freight today.

   

        

   

     

Ship Lithium Battery Cargo to the Middle East

     

Book international air freight for UN3481 and UN3091 classified shipments through Couriers & Freight's carrier network and compare available routes to your destination.

     Get a Quote Now