Suez Canal transits rise, though far from Pre-Crisis Norms

Overall Suez Canal traffic improving but still far below normal

The Suez Canal Authority has confirmed a safe operating environment after a general cargo vessel briefly grounded near the northern entrance earlier this week. The incident posed no risk to navigation and was quickly managed by salvage teams.

Overall Suez Canal traffic improving but still far below normal

• Meanwhile, vessel traffic through the Suez Canal continues to recover as carriers cautiously return to the waterway. Despite this positive shift, transits remain around 60% lower than levels seen before the Red Sea crisis.

• Many major lines (MSC, CMA CGM, etc.) still divert traffic via the Cape of Good Hope due to ongoing security concerns.

• These diversions continue to impact fuel costs, global schedules, transit times and capacity planning across key Asia-Europe and Middle East trade lanes.

Schedules remain inconsistent, with potential knock-on effects for capacity planning and ETAs. The gradual return of vessels could ease congestion and reduce volatility but recovery will be slow.

We are closely monitoring developments across all maritime corridors to ensure uninterrupted support for our customers, offering proactive routing guidance and real-time updates as market conditions evolve.

For further updates, please contact your local NNR team.

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