DISvue Team
Supply chain and logistics insights
Written by DISvue — follow global logistics trends and their impact on industrial supply chains.
After more than a year of near abandonment, containership traffic through the Suez Canal is showing tentative signs of recovery. Recent data indicates a modest but meaningful increase in weekly transits, suggesting that global carriers are carefully reassessing one of the world's most critical maritime trade routes. While volumes remain far below historical levels, every successful passage represents a calculated step toward potential normalization.
In the week ending January 11, 26 containerships transited the Suez Canal, marking the highest weekly total in over a month. While this number is modest compared to pre-crisis levels, it represents a notable shift for a route that has been largely avoided since late 2023. According to Drewry's Red Sea Diversion Tracker, several large vessels — including five ships exceeding 8,000 TEU — successfully passed through the canal, up from only two the previous week.
Before the escalation of security risks in the Red Sea, the Suez Canal typically handled around 80 containerships per week, accounting for roughly 12% of global seaborne trade between Asia and Europe. That volume collapsed after attacks on commercial shipping forced carriers to reroute vessels thousands of miles around the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing transit times, fuel consumption, and operational costs.
The recent uptick follows a holiday-driven slowdown that saw just 10 transits the week before. Unlike previous fluctuations, however, this increase appears more deliberate, reflecting controlled testing rather than seasonal noise. Each transit is effectively a real-time risk assessment, closely monitored by shipowners, insurers, and cargo interests alike.
The gradual return to the Suez Canal is being led cautiously by some of the world's largest shipping companies. Maersk completed its second Red Sea transit in mid-January when the Maersk Denver safely passed through the strait on its Middle East–U.S. East Coast service. This followed an earlier December transit, marking the company's first use of the canal since the attacks began.
Maersk has emphasized that any further return will be gradual and conditional, prioritizing crew safety, vessel security, and cargo integrity. A similar but slightly more assertive approach has been taken by CMA CGM, which resumed limited Suez transits on selected services. In late December, the carrier sent the 23,000-TEU CMA CGM Jacques Saade through the canal — the largest containership to do so in nearly two years.
Meanwhile, MSC and APL have also participated in recent transits, indicating growing — though still restrained — confidence in the route.
Second transit completed mid-January with Maersk Denver. Gradual and conditional approach.
Sent 23,000-TEU CMA CGM Jacques Saade through canal — largest containership in nearly two years.
Participating in recent transits with growing but restrained confidence.
Active participant in testing the route with controlled transits.
Despite the increased Suez activity, the majority of global containership traffic continues to divert around southern Africa. In the same week that 26 ships transited the canal, 203 containerships sailed via the Cape of Good Hope, more than double the previous week's total. This disparity highlights the industry's continued reluctance to commit fully to the Red Sea route.
Security concerns remain paramount. Since October 2023, over 100 merchant vessels have been targeted, with multiple ships damaged or sunk and several seafarers losing their lives. As a result, carriers are closely monitoring not only regional security developments, but also insurance premiums, competitive behavior, and the risk of congestion at European ports should traffic suddenly surge back through Suez.
The potential reopening of the Suez Canal is widely regarded as one of the most significant swing factors for shipping capacity, freight rates, and transit times in the year ahead. According to Drewry analyst Philip Damas, carriers are likely to proceed conservatively, balancing operational efficiency against persistent geopolitical risks.
For Egypt, the stakes are particularly high. The Suez Canal is a vital source of foreign currency, and officials have expressed hopes that traffic could normalize by the second half of 2026. Until then, recovery is expected to remain uneven, shaped by incremental decisions rather than decisive shifts.
Full reopening could increase available capacity on key Asia-Europe routes
Increased capacity may lead to downward pressure on container shipping rates
Shorter transit times compared to Cape route could improve supply chain reliability
The Suez Canal represents a critical source of foreign currency for Egypt. Officials hope for normalization by H2 2026, but recovery will likely remain gradual and incremental.
Frequently asked questions about Suez Canal shipping recovery
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