The number of containerships sailing via the Suez Canal increased to 26 in the week ended 11 January – the highest weekly tally in 5 weeks, according to the new Red Sea Diversion Tracker launched by Drewry Shipping Consultants today. In the previous week, the number of containerships transits was just 10 – likely explained by the traditional post-Christmas lull in shipping.
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The apparent increased popularity of the Suez Canal happened as CMA CGM/APL and MSC sent five 8,000 TEUs+ containerships via the Suez Canal in week 2, up from two vessels of this size in week 1. Smaller, niche carriers continue to send relatively smaller ships via the Suez Canal. In week 52, Maersk had sent a 6,478 TEUs containership operating on the US-Middle East route via the Canal, in a move regarded as a test.
In Drewry’s view, the industry will now watch whether other large carriers will continue to wait and see or resume Suez transits with their large vessels. The number of voyages via the Cape of Good Hope also jumped in week 2, to 203, from 82 in the previous week.
The number of transits via the Suez Canal remains considerably below the normal level of about 55 per week Northbound and 25 per week Southbound before the Red Sea crisis started in late 2023.
“The return to the Suez Canal route is one of this year’s key influencing factors for capacity, freight rates, transit times and fuel consumption, and we believe our new Red Sea Diversion Tracker will help inform thousands of stakeholders in shipping,” said Philip Damas, managing director of Drewry.