The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has severely disrupted the global art logistics network, particularly in Asia. A report in the Art Newspaper details soaring costs and shipping delays, with international air freight for fine art spiking up to 300% due to increased oil prices. Some exhibitions, like a Per Kirkeby show in China, have opened with fewer works, and shipments for Art Basel Hong Kong were stuck at sea for over a month. Shippers are now considering alternative routes, such as the China-Europe Railway Express, to mitigate delays and costs.
The crisis highlights the fragility of the globalized art market's supply chain and its direct vulnerability to geopolitical instability. Rising costs are forcing galleries, artists, and institutions to cancel or postpone projects, impacting exhibition planning and fair participation. The situation poses a significant financial threat to art logistics companies, potentially reducing their yearly turnover, and is reshaping how the art world plans for international movement of works in an uncertain climate.