Shipping groups Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will resume some sailings through the Suez Canal under their Gemini joint network, Maersk said on Monday, a move that weighed on shares of both companies amid concerns over the potential impact on freight rates.
The Asia–Europe trade corridor via the Suez Canal had been largely abandoned by most carriers following attacks in the Red Sea. This forced shipping lines to reroute vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, significantly extending voyage times. However, shipping companies are now increasingly considering a return to the Red Sea route.
Separately, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said on Monday that its SE3 service would immediately resume sailing via the Red Sea instead of rounding the Cape of Good Hope.
“The route via the Red Sea is the most efficient route for these voyages and enables us to offer our customers a more direct and faster connection between Asia and Europe,” the company said.
It added that “the safety of our crews, vessels and our customers’ cargo remains our top priority,” noting that it will continue to closely monitor the situation.
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