Sri Lanka has emerged as an unexpected holding point for luxury vehicles, including Lamborghinis, as the Middle East conflict disrupts global shipping routes, according to a Reuters report.
Around 50 secondhand luxury vehicles — including Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and Ferraris — were offloaded in Sri Lanka and China after ships were unable to reach Dubai, where buyers in the Middle East were waiting.
In a separate case, a shipment of more than 500 used cars was also delayed at sea after Sri Lanka’s ports became congested with cargo diverted from Dubai. The vehicles were eventually unloaded at Hambantota Port more than 10 days late.
Exporters in Japan and South Korea said the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising tensions in the Middle East have disrupted shipping schedules, forced cargo diversions, and increased storage costs.
The Middle East is a key market for used cars from Japan and South Korea, and traders say the ongoing conflict is creating uncertainty, with some vessels pausing near South Asia — including Sri Lanka — as businesses adopt a wait-and-hold strategy. (Newswire)