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.
From 6-8 January 2026, new data and carrier guidance revealed that Suez Canal transits remain about 60 percent lower than pre crisis levels despite a temporary cessation in Houthi attacks. BIMCO highlighted this persistent shortfall while Maersk and CMA CGM provided gradual approaches for any large scale return of Red Sea/Trans Suez routes.
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.
December 2025 marked an historic turning point in global ocean shipping as carriers gradually resumed Suez Canal transits after nearly one year of Cape of Good Hope diversion. CMA CGM launched regular eastbound services while Maersk promised 10-14 day transit time reductions; yet oversupply and weak demand continue pressurizing rates across major trade lanes.
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.
Major container ports around the world experienced severe operational disruptions in late December 2025 due to severe weather conditions and capacity restrictions, with European and UK ports dealing with fog and wind effects while Asian and North American gateways had to manage congestion ahead of Chinese New Year peak season.
Maersk and CMA CGM resumed transits of the Suez Canal with key vessels in late December 2025, signaling their return toward normal traffic levels by mid-2026. Egypt and Japan signed an agreement for an emergency diving support vessel grant of $22 million; Chairman Osama Rabie of SCA acknowledged these as results of intensive marketing efforts under rising stability conditions.
Since December 10, 2024, both the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have seen over one month without confirmed Houthi attacks on merchant vessels since December 10th; analysts credit reduced targets, US and UK airstrikes, and Houthi focus on land targets amid potential Gaza ceasefire ceasefire for this peaceful trend; although risks still exist.
On December 23rd 2025, the Suez Canal welcomed mega container ships CMA CGM Jacques Saade and CMA CGM Adonis back into service, signifying CMA CGMs full capacity return while Maersk began gradual resumption through Maersk Sebarok transits. Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie anticipates normal traffic will return by mid-2026 through intensive marketing initiatives.
Container freight markets experienced gradual improvement during the week ending December 29th 2025, driven by carrier blank sailings on Trans-Pacific routes and initial Suez Canal transits by Maersk Sebarok and CMA CGM Jacques Saade. Spot rates also rose on key indices with Asia-Europe bookings increasing and steady US port operations supporting year-end flows ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations.
At the close of 2025, the containership charter market showed resilience despite freight market challenges; one-year time charter rates across feeder, midsize and large vessel segments remained stable across one-year time charter rates across feeder, midsize and large vessel segments despite freight market challenges. According to MSI reports on tight supply conditions boosting rates; 2026 deliveries may put downward pressure on them though multipurpose rates had slight gains according to Toepfer Transport.
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.
Container carriers remain "firm" on transpacific rate stability; January capacity up 13% to US West Coast. Maersk completes its first Suez Canal transit in two years, indicating a cautious resumption of traffic through the Red Sea corridor. Asia-Europe bookings soar as inland networks face railcar shortages and driver constraints moving toward 2026.
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.
A Hong Kong flagged container ship faced an explosion and fire while transiting northbound in the Red Sea this week, and the crew reportedly abandoned ship leaving it adrift off Yemen. “The incident underscores lingering perils for both security and environmental protections for container shipping in this corridor—and amidst the industry's attempts to gradually restore Suez routings. “The ASL Bauhinia experienced an explosion and resultant fire that caused a floater to have to abandon ship. However, there is no indication of the root of this incident or confirmation of vessel tracking,” commented one container shipping risk expert.
More recently, commercial access to the oceans has been changed by incremental moves by carriers back in the direction of the Suez Canal; continuing security risks offshore in the Red and Black Seas; and an increased naval tempo in the Baltic. Carriers, insurers and regulators are adjusting routing, risk premiums and enforcement to try and find an optimum balance between efficient schedule operation and mitigating geo-political and maritime security risk.
Over the past week, freight rates in container shipping markets received another boost from spot general rate increases, uncertainty around Red Sea and Suez Canal return dates and operational disruptions stemming from exposure to weather and labor risks. Carriers and ports are both grappling with capacity deployment, inland bottlenecks, and investments against a quirkily entrenched global demand backdrop.
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.
Most recently Maersk introduced changes in the Asia-Pacific and North America with the recruitment of a new managing director for South Asia, the opening of a ground freight hub in Georgia and joining The Customization Group as partners, while also readying themselves to make a return to Suez Canal transits even as they continue to tackle the supply chain challenges that have persisted.