On January 11-12, Danish carrier Maersk successfully transited the Red Sea with its US-flagged vessel Maersk Denver as part of its ongoing steps toward reinstating Suez Canal routes. CMA CGM's earlier returns are welcomed by the Suez Canal Authority; however, full traffic recovery may remain uncertain given ongoing security concerns.
Container shipping markets opened 2026 with significantly higher spot rates from East Asia to US East Coast, even as US container imports ended 2025 slightly below 2024. Early January updates from major carriers show service adjustments and limited idling of container ships as they create tight yet reshaping capacity landscape.
Maersk Group and CMA CGM have initiated their return to the Suez Canal starting early December 2025 following agreements with the Suez Canal Authority amid improved Red Sea security. Successful trial transits and an agreement for new diving support vessels signify gradual recovery in global trade routes; full normalization could take months.
Geopolitical tensions dominated global maritime trade during the final months of 2025, with US tariffs driving cargo contraction and port charge retaliations from China. A Busan truce offered some relief while Red Sea trials conducted by Maersk and CMA CGM hinted at normalization; container rates continued to surge amid delays highlighting persistent disruptions.
CMA CGM announced they have successfully resumed full-capacity operations through the Suez Canal following successful trial transits in December 2025. CMA CGM's megaship CMA CGM Jacques Saade used this route on December 23, marking it as being used by one of its largest container vessels since 2016. CMA CGM plans a dedicated India-US service via Suez starting January 2026.
Hapag-Lloyd took home gold at Hellmann's 2025 Carrier of the Year Awards on December 5. Additionally, eight dual fuel methanol container ships were ordered as well as an announcement regarding Hanseatic Global Terminal's greenfield terminal investment in Brazil via Hanseatic Global Terminals as proof of their sustainability and expansion goals for an eventful year.
Maersk and CMA CGM began cautiously resuming Suez Canal transits after almost two years of Cape of Good Hope routing following a fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025. War risk premiums have fallen significantly while security analysts caution that conditions remain volatile and could change quickly.
Two big ship operators, Maersk Group and CMA CGM, have revealed plans to once again make Suez Canal transits starting in December 2025, a sign of tentative recovery based on improvements in Red Sea security resulting from a Gaza ceasefire agreement and the resumption of the Sharm El-Sheikh peace initiatives. Trial transits by large vessels indicate carrier confidence that Suez Canal operations will be back to normal, although it will take months for full re-normalization.
Container shipping seemed to enter December in fairly rude health, having started the month with Suez Canal transits being restarted under the leadership of Maersk and CMA CGM, perhaps bringing much-needed stability to the over-heated Asia-Europe lanes, although some short-term volatility might remain. Drewry said its World Container Index rose on December 11 by another 2% to $1957 per 40ft container despite US import volumes continuing to show decline and the completed Houthi attacks in Israel-Jordan suspected by some of relieving some rate pressure; on top of that Black Sea risks and the EU ETS surcharges added even more confusion.
No timeline for when Gemini alliance would like to restart transits through Red Sea due to ceasefire developments said Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd on November 26. Nine Filipino seafarers from M/V Eternity C sunk by Houthis on July 17 are set for release after five months held captive by Houthis.
The Panama Canal Authority has made “forward-looking investments in new ports and gas pipelines” in light of changing global trade routes . Recent announcements include greater LPG transits, plans to soon break ground on a new port facility, and wooing others to invest.
Evergreen marine will cement its place among the world’s leaders in container shipping, buying 14 LNG dual-fuel boxships of 14,000-TEU capacity from Samsung Heavy Industries and Guangzhou Shipyard International for about $2.8-$3bn by November 2025.
Hapag-Lloyd’s nine-month net profit fell by half to EUR 846 million, prompting it cut its full-year EBIT forecast by EUR 150 million. Growth of 9% in volume helped, but low rates and sheltering costs have weighed heavily, though we find the early cost benefit from Gemini cooperation with Maersk here.