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.
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.
From December 8-10, 2025, the Suez Canal scene was defined by Maersk and CMA CGM’s confirmed plans for next large scale Suez Canal transits commencing December 2025, and its highlighted transit by gigantic floating repair dockGREEN DOCK 3 earlier in the week - an indicator of enhanced protection, growing confidence, and expanding capacity along the important artery.
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.
Between 6-8 December 2025, the Suez Canal’s slow recovery appeared to be gathering pace as CMA CGM said it would commence a full loop of its container service via Suez, while Suez Canal Authority showcased its tricky transit of floating dock GREEN DOCK 3. However, officials were still reporting lower volumes and revenues. Analysts suggested a full scale rerouting from Cape route is still months away.
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.
December 4-6, 2025: Suez Canal was still being overshadowed by CMA CGM’s decision to send its INDAMEX service via Suez and new research containing further analysis of the market impact of carrier returns is still several months away. The Suez Canal Authority continued to reach out to the bigger lines such as Maersk and Hapag Lloyd, but those carriers remained committed to security and schedule reliability rather than any short cuts.
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.
US and China trade officials struck an historic trade deal to suspend port fees to retaliate starting November 10, 2025, to the delight of maritime operators. There appeared some relief after hundreds of massive containers were disrupted spanning months to have reached a turning point recently, as charges could be increased without congressional families.
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.
CMA CGM moved 6.17 million TEU in Q3 2025 despite geopolitical disruption, with a new agreement reached to re-start Suez Canal transits in December. Mediterranean-South America services were enhanced and stakes in major ports expanded at the same time that freight rates fell sharply and competition for capacity mounted.
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.
A.P. Moller-Maersk and the Suez Canal Authority have signed a partnership deal committing to return container vessels gradually along its route from early December 2025, in a big win following two years of Houthi disruption costing Egypt a loss of some $7 billion in revenue.
Shipping heavyweights Maersk and CMA CGM to resume investing through the Suez Canal Authority starting December 2025. Now that's news! Not necessarily for you and me but SCA needs this badly. Saadia Muna, CEO of SCA, confirming this on the back of improving security conditions in the region, a marked shift given the crisis the global shipping lane endured two years ago. After all, when these two restart intercontinental trade that means all hell won't break loose right?
The Suez Canal Authority had made landmark deals with the Maersk Group and CMA CGM, and stated that both carriers were to resume transits through the waterway after it raced ahead to resume trial voyages by both vessels. The transit of the canal is expected to be resumed in December, based on greatly improved regional security conditions.
On 25th November 2025, the Suez Canal Authority and A.P. Moller-Maersk Group sealed their partnership agreement, with Maersk-affiliated vessels resuming transits through the canal in early December; CMA CGM confirmed full capacity operations through the canal from December, and traffic statistics showed improvement after continued regional attempts at peace.
November 2025 saw two incidents involving container ships; the National Transportation Safety Board released a report on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge due to the crew of the Dali boxship, and ONE Henry Hudson facing a severe cargo fire in Port of Los Angeles.