Container shipping made waves during the final week of 2025 with major developments ranging from trade route normalization and Arctic expansion, vessel orders, to military adaptations of merchant hulls.
CMA CGM's Jacques Saade Transits Suez Canal
On December 23, CMA CGM Jacques Saade, one of the worlds largest container ships, completed its maiden voyage in nearly two years through Morocco to Malaysia via the Suez Canal southbound route - leading a convoy and marking its full capacity return via this vital waterway.
CMA CGMs transit follows its announcement of their INDAMEX service restarting full loop operations via Suez between India/Pakistan and US East Coast ports, commencing fronthaul and backhaul operations via Suez on fronthaul and backhaul routes via Karachi to New York on January 15, 2026 reducing transit time from Cape of Good Hope routing by one day.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, applauded this decision as evidence of intensive marketing efforts. While carriers such as Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and ZIM have yet to commit timelines or timestamps for when their transits will commence again under Houthi threats, analysts point out a reduction from 583 transits per month in October 2023 to 120 transits by November 2025 versus 583 in that month alone.
Record Container Transits on Northern Sea Route
Russias Northern Sea Route completed its 2025 season with 103 transit voyages carrying 3.2 million tons, despite challenging ice conditions. Container vessel traffic hit an all-time record 15 transits; tankers led but feeders and bulkers also gained market share.
China expanded Arctic container shipping via the New Silk Road (NSR), successfully completing 14 voyages between Asia and Europe via this northern route, underscoring rising interest in it as traditional paths become disrupted.
MPCC Achieves Six Feeder New Build Projects
MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) announced its contract with Chinas Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering for six 3,700 TEU vessels to be delivered between 2028-2029, scheduled to enter 10-year time charter contracts with top-5 liner companies and generate USD 479 Million in revenues and USD 288 Million EBITDA in their initial years of charters.
Fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel-ready design of 2025's vessel fits regional feeder trades perfectly, offering flexibility when changing lanes. Total investment amounts to USD 292.5 million, funded both with equity and debt financing options. CEO Constantin Baack highlighted its transformative impact, with 17 newbuild orders totalling over USD 2 billion backlog on order at the time.
China Converts Container Ship Into Missile Battery
On Christmas Day 2025, images emerged showing a Chinese container carrier outfitted as a missile arsenal ship in Shanghai. The 97-meter vessel includes containerized vertical launch cells, radars and other systems capable of firing 60 missiles per salvo salvo capability.
Satellite imagery verified the setup, underscoring the dual use potential of standard merchant hulls as potential naval platforms amid regional tensions.
Market Implications
BIMCO analysts anticipate stable conditions but caution about Suez return risks that could reduce ship demand by 10%. They also foresee capacity growth, slower speeds of 14.7 knots YTD 2025 and overcapacity pressuring rates even lower.
Peter Sand, Chief Analyst for Xeneta, cautioned that while CMAs move was structural, any broad-scale Red Sea resumption hinges upon Houthi intentions being assessed.