Record 6,068-EV Shipment Reaches Khorfakkan as the UAE Market Battles a Supply Squeeze

Khorfakkan Port is set to receive a record 6,068 new energy vehicles from Chinese automaker BYD in a single shipment — the largest batch of finished vehicles the port has ever handled. The vessel, BYD’s own car carrier Changsha, departed Xiaomo International Logistics Port in Shenzhen on 4 August 2026, launching a direct ro-ro shipping route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

The new route cuts delivery times to the region by three to five days and reduces exposure to the disruptions that have hit the Strait of Hormuz since late February 2026. For the UAE market, the arrival is a supply signal after months of stretched waitlists.

Demand is outrunning supply

Industry executives say EV demand is running 15 to 20 per cent above last year’s levels, with enquiries for affordable Chinese EV models up more than 30 per cent since the conflict began. Dealers sold through EV stock in March and April, and waitlists for popular models stretched to between three and five months.

“Demand surged exactly when the import pipeline shut. Almost every EV sold in the UAE is imported, mostly from China, so supply cannot respond the way it normally would.”

What it means for prices

• New EV on-the-road prices have risen 10 to 15 per cent on higher logistics costs and war-risk insurance
• Rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope adds 10 to 14 days to delivery times
• War-risk surcharges reach up to USD 3,000 per container
• Many buyers are turning to hybrids, which remain easier to source

The Khorfakkan route is also a milestone for Sharjah. The Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority has announced plans to raise port capacity to five million TEUs, positioning Khorfakkan as a regional gateway for automotive imports.