Container ships are going back through the Suez Canal. Not all of them, and not without conditions, but this week the return became real.
What happened
On 14 September, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced that four of their Gemini services (AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2) would switch from the Cape of Good Hope back to Suez. Two others, AE15 and AE19, were already using the canal.
Two days later, COSCO's 24,188 TEU OOCL Portugal sailed south through the canal on a Belgium–China voyage. The Suez Canal Authority called it COSCO's first southbound transit since the Red Sea crisis began. The Authority says CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and COSCO have all come back to the canal "to varying degrees", and its numbers back that up: container ship tonnage through Suez in January to August was up 54% on the same period last year.
This is a turnaround from March, when the strikes on Iran made most carriers drop their return plans. CMA CGM even reversed a return it had already started.
Why carriers are cautious
The Red Sea is not calm. Houthi forces have made gains on Yemen's coast this month, taking Mocha and moving onto islands near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. For now they say their blockade targets Saudi ships only, and they have told US officials they won't attack American or Israeli vessels. Carriers are treating that as enough to try, not enough to promise. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd both say future routing depends on the Red Sea staying stable.
In plain terms: the lines can switch back to the Cape at short notice if something happens.
What it means for Pakistan–Europe cargo
For Pakistani exporters selling to Europe, mostly textiles and garments, Suez is the short way. Going round Africa has added roughly 10 to 14 days to the voyage, and that has made it harder to hit seasonal delivery dates for European buyers.
- Transit times should come down on services that switch back, but the benefit depends on which service your cargo is on. Ask your forwarder whether your sailing routes via Suez or the Cape, rather than assuming.
- Don't plan around it yet. If a delivery date is tight, quote your buyer on the Cape timing until the Suez routing has held for a while. Early arrival is never the problem.
- Check your insurance. A Suez transit can carry different insurance terms from a Cape routing. If the line changes the route, make sure your cargo cover still applies.
Shipping to Europe this season? Send us the details and we'll tell you which services are routing via Suez and what that means for your dates.
Quick answers
Are container ships using the Suez Canal again?
Yes, partly. Since mid-September 2026, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, CMA CGM and MSC have moved some services back to Suez, but carriers say they will return to the Cape if security gets worse.
How much time does Suez save compared with the Cape?
Roughly 10 to 14 days on an Asia or Pakistan to Europe voyage, depending on the service.
Will freight rates to Europe fall?
Shorter voyages free up ships, which usually puts downward pressure on Asia–Europe rates over time. It won't be overnight, and war-risk costs on Red Sea transits work in the other direction.
Sources: gCaptain · Carra Globe · Air Cargo News · Seatrade Maritime