Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk has announced a resumption and ramp-up of sailings through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, marking a significant shift after more than two years of rerouting global shipping traffic.
In a statement, Maersk said it will implement a structural return to the trans-Suez route for all sailings of its MECL service — the weekly liner linking the Middle East and India with the U.S. East Coast — with the first voyage under the revised routing scheduled to depart from Salalah, Oman, on 26 January 2026.
The move follows improved stability and reliability in the Red Sea corridor, attributed in part to a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict that began in October 2025, which has reduced major hostilities and supported safer navigation conditions. One of Maersk’s vessels had already completed a test transit through the corridor in December 2025, reinforcing confidence in the route’s viability.
Maersk’s decision signals a gradual return to the Suez route that many carriers abandoned in late 2023 after attacks on vessels by Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, which had forced rerouting around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope and longer, costlier voyages. Before the disruption, the Suez Canal handled about 10 percent of global seaborne trade.
While the company’s share price dipped on the announcement — reflecting market expectations of lower freight rates as the shorter route is reinstated — Maersk emphasised that contingency plans remain in place should security conditions deteriorate. Other carriers are monitoring the situation, with some yet to adjust operations but acknowledging the significance of Maersk’s step.
The reinstatement of regular Suez and Red Sea transits could shorten voyages by up to a week compared with the Africa detour, potentially easing global freight costs and improving supply chain efficiency if stability holds.
