CMA CGM's Jacques Saade Completes Historic Suez Transit
On December 23, 2025, CMA CGM's LNG-powered megacontainer ship CMA CGM Jacques Saade transited the Suez Canal for the first time since 2024 - marking a historic first passage since October 10. Measuring 400 metres long with 23,000 TEU capacity and heading northbound from Morocco towards Malaysia demonstrates CMA CGM's trust in security conditions following an fragile ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas that took effect on October 10. This Northbound transit from Morocco demonstrated CMA CGM's confidence in safety environment after fragile ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas that took effect October 10. This northbound transit from Morocco towards Malaysia demonstrated CMA CGM's trust in security environment following fragile ceasefire truce took effect between October 10 and 11 when conflict in Gaza temporarily stopped with Hamas taking only limited conditions for an agreement was agreed between all parties involved and Hamas on October 10. CMA CGM displayed its confidence by traversing from Morocco all the way across this waterway and Malaysian port operations showed its confidence.
At the same time, CMA CGM Adonis completed a southbound passage carrying 154,000 tonnes of cargo. These transits followed successful trial voyages earlier in December that established them as one of the first major carriers to resume full-capacity operations through this strategic waterway. Admiral Ossama Rabiee of Suez Canal Authority described this development as heralding a new phase for major container shipping lines returning to its waters thanks to intensive marketing initiatives launched over recent months by his authority.
Launch of India-US Service via Suez Canal
CMA CGM announced on December 5 that their INDAMEX service will operate a full east-west loop via the Suez Canal between India/Pakistan and US East Coast beginning with CMA CGM Verdi sailing from Karachi to New York on January 15, 2026. This marks a structural shift away from previous case-by-case transits through Red Sea corridor; instead it establishes regular service rotation through this Red Sea route, cutting transit times by two weeks compared with Cape of Good Hope alternative; total journey duration will now total 77 days!
Four more vessels on INDAMEX's INDAMEX service--APL Oregon, CMA CGM Passion, APL Le Havre and CMA CGM Maupassant--will complete eastbound transits via Suez before the new rotation takes full effect. Other CMA CGM vessels such as Jules Verne, Changi, Galapagos and Grace Bay have already transited Suez on eastbound voyages for CMA CGM's Grace Bay service and others operating proforma transits have also transited Suez on eastbound voyages before for CMA CGM grace Bay's official proforma passages; analysts note this announcement signals confidence in continuing security improvements with large-scale carrier returns being gradual.
Industry Reaction and Market Implications
CMA CGM's return to Suez operations follows similar cautious moves by competitor Maersk, which confirmed in late November that one of their vessels had navigated through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait for the first time since nearly two years - though full resumption remains unlikely in the near term; Maersk instead preferring gradual stepwise returns. Other major carriers like Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM have not provided definitive timelines for large-scale Red Sea returns, with ZIM citing insurance approval as an excuse.
Suez Canal Authority anticipates canal traffic will gradually improve throughout 2026, reaching normalized levels by the second half of the year. Container ship transits were reduced significantly from their peak of 583 in October 2023 prior to Houthi militia attacks intensifying. Industry observers caution that while CMA CGM's structural service announcement represents progress, an all-out return by multiple carriers could cause capacity flooding and consequent freight rate pressure across markets.