Increase in Suez traffic will be seen starting in the second quarter

The number of containerships sailing via the Suez Canal increased to 26 in the week ended 11 January – the highest weekly tally in 5 weeks, according to the new Red Sea Diversion Tracker launched today by Drewry Shipping Consultants. In the previous week, the number of containerships transits was just 10 – likely explained by the traditional post-Christmas lull in shipping.

The apparent increased popularity of the Suez Canal 

The apparent increased popularity of the Suez Canal happened that still a positive sign considering that in the last week, CMA CGM and MSC have sent five container ships with a capacity of more than 8,000 TEU through the canal, compared to two units the previous week. It should also be noted that Maersk, with its Maersk Denver (6,200 TEU), completed its second transit of the waterway since the attacks began between January 11th and 12th, following the passage of the Maersk Sebarok in December. CMA CGM, which had traveled through the waterway in the same month with the 23,000 TEU Jacques Saade, has announced that its ships deployed on the Indamex service will use the Suez Canal route from January. Before the start of the crisis due to the Houthi attacks on ships, weekly transits through the canal averaged 55 

In Drewry’s view,

In Drewry’s view, the industry will now watch whether other large carriers will continue to wait and see or resume Suez transits with their large vessels. In the week ending January 11, 26 container ships passed through the Suez Canal (13 heading north and the same number heading south), compared to 175 transiting the Cape of Good Hope route (93 heading to Asia and 82 heading ‘against’)

Related : CMA CGM shifts INDAMEX toward Suez routing from mid-January 2026

The number of voyages via the Cape of Good Hope

The number of voyages via the Cape of Good Hope also jumped in week 2, to 175, from 72 in the previous week.The number of transits via the Suez Canal remains considerably below the normal level of about 55 per week Northbound and 25 per week Southbound before the Red Sea crisis started in late 2023.

The highest figure reached in recent weeks

Drewry notes this, noting that this is the highest figure reached in recent weeks (the week ending December 7th had seen 31). This is a marked improvement compared to the previous seven days, given that—likely due to the traditional Christmas break—there were only 10 total transits via Suez (72 via Buona Speranza).

“The return to the Suez Canal route is one of this year’s key influencing factors for capacity, freight rates, transit times and fuel consumption, and we believe our new Red Sea Diversion Tracker will help inform thousands of stakeholders in shipping,” said Philip Damas, managing director of Drewry.

Related :Maersk first Red Sea transit in nearly two years

Increase in Suez traffic

This was also confirmed Daniel Richards, an analyst at Maritime Strategies International, recently spoke on the issue, telling Seatrade Maritime that he believes a more significant increase in Suez traffic will be seen starting in the second quarter, but also that this remains a "highly uncertain and easily reversible dynamic." According to MSI analyses, global container fleet capacity is expected to grow by 7% in 2025, against a 5% increase in demand. This is expected to decline during 2026, with a projected 2% increase, while hold capacity growth will slow, reaching 3.5% annually

Increasing transits via Suez gradually

Drewry will monitor and publish trends and expects larger carriers to remain cautious, increasing transits via Suez gradually; watching the insurance market, the early movers with whom they compete and the effect of ending diversions on freight rates. In Drewry’s view, a gradual return may minimise the bunching of ships arriving in Europe and avoid severe congestion

.Increasing transits via Suez gradually

Derry will monitor and publish trends and expects larger carriers to remain cautious, increasing transits via Suez gradually; watching the insurance market, the early movers with whom they compete and the effect of ending diversions on freight rates. In Drewry’s view, a gradual return may minimise the bunching of ships arriving in Europe and avoid severe congestion

Related :Drewry : Cancelled Sailings Tracker

#Derry #CMACGM #Maersk #MSC #Suez Canal # According to MSI analyses #Daniel Richards #Philip Damas#MSI analyses#Cape of Good Hope