Seoul: Container shipping costs from South Korea to the Middle East continued rising in July, the customs agency said Tuesday, amid protracted geopolitical tensions in the region. The average shipping charge for a 40-foot container from South Korea to the Middle East rose 14.5 percent from a month earlier to 8.78 million won (US$6,217) in June.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the reading has been rising since March. The average shipping charge for containers bound for the U.S. west coast rose 11.1 percent from a month earlier to 8.56 million won, while that for the east coast increased 14.4 percent to 8.14 million won. Shipping costs to the European Union jumped 36.4 percent to 5.68 million won.

The figures include freight rates, commissions, and other charges reported by local exporters, the agency noted. The continued increase in shipping costs reflects the ongoing impact of geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions affecting global trade routes. The rising costs are impacting exporters and importers who rely on these routes for transportation of goods.