Carriers Queue Up for Suez: Canal Transits Back Above 50% of Pre-Crisis Levels

2026-10-15 / Ocean freight

From 330,000 TEU to 753,000 TEU

The Clarksons Research numbers are the clearest measure of the shift: weekly container ship capacity transiting the Suez Canal averaged roughly 753,000 TEU in the first two weeks of October, back above 50% of the roughly 1.46 million TEU handled before the diversions began. The trough was 330,000 TEU in the final week of December 2023. Canal Authority figures tell the same story: container ship net tonnage reached 72.1 million tonnes in January–August 2026, against 46.7 million a year earlier.

Two more alliances moved this month

The Gemini Cooperation (Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd) is switching AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 from the Cape of Good Hope back to Suez, taking its canal-using strings to six. The Premier Alliance (ONE, HMM, Yang Ming) follows in October: the FE1 Southeast Asia–North Europe loop drops from a 13-week to an 11-week round voyage, with the 8,110-TEU ONE Continuity sailing from Laem Chabang on 17 October, while Gemini's SE1 sends the Umm Qarn from Tanjung Pelepas on 27 October. Linerlytica counts more than 2 million TEU of capacity structurally shifted back to Suez since May.

The transit-time math is real

The Georgia Ports Authority confirms Maersk's MECL service now moves cargo from Nhava Sheva to Savannah in 28 days, 10 to 14 days faster than the Cape routing, and CMA CGM's INDAMEX has returned to the canal as well. Drewry's base case, published 8 October, sees canal transits at 80% of pre-diversion levels by February 2027; the same day its World Container Index fell 2% to $4,351 per 40ft, with returning capacity one of the weights sitting on Asia–Europe spot rates.

The shooting hasn't fully stopped

The return is not risk-free. On 7 October an armed small boat opened fire on a containership in the southern Red Sea, according to the EU Naval Force's Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean; all crew were safe. Carriers stress that each service change is assessed individually and can be reversed if conditions deteriorate.

What shippers should do

On Europe and Middle East bookings, ask which way the ship actually goes — transit times differ by two weeks, and Red Sea surcharges deserve a second question on Suez routings. For Southeast Asia cargo, direct North Europe calls from Laem Chabang and Tanjung Pelepas are multiplying; it is a good week to re-compare your transshipment options.