The world’s two biggest container lines have temporarily suspended cargo shipments in and out of Russia following the latest wave of Western sanctions designed to put pressure on the Kremlin.
Swiss company MSC said it had introduced "a temporary stoppage on all cargo bookings to/from Russia, covering all access areas including Baltics, Black Sea and Far East Russia” and Danish company Maersk announced it would temporarily halt all container shipping to and from the country.
Both companies said they would continue shipments of foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies.
"As the stability and safety of our operations is already being directly and indirectly impacted by sanctions, new Maersk bookings within ocean and inland to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended," Maersk said in a statement.
The decision follows similar announcements by Singapore’s Ocean Network Express and Germany’s Hapag Lloyd.
Russia was also cut out of a majority of its passenger aircraft fleet as plane leasing AerCap Holdings and BOC Aviation pulled their planes from the country.