Signs of Recovery As Red Sea Reopens On Select Eastbound Journeys
At least two Ocean Alliance members have recently begun cautiously reintroducing the Suez Canal and Red Sea into their eastbound Europe–Asia service rotations.
CMA CGM and OOCL have both confirmed recent eastbound sailings through the region, marking the clearest move so far toward restoring traditional trade lanes after Houthi-related security concerns triggered widespread diversions nearly two years ago.
Although westbound Asia–Europe voyages continue to avoid the area, even a limited return is delivering tangible benefits. Removing the Cape of Good Hope diversion on one leg of the journey reduces overall round-trip transit times by around seven days.
CMA CGM took the initial step last month, sending vessels through the Red Sea for the first time since hostilities escalated two years ago. This has since been followed by a broader Ocean Alliance commitment, with the NEU4 service set to reinstate its eastbound routing from Southampton to Asia via the Suez Canal – signalling growing confidence in both security and operational conditions.
These operational developments align with a significant humanitarian milestone. Earlier this month, 11 seafarers who had been held since a fatal July attack – an incident that claimed four lives and led to the sinking of their vessel – were released by Houthi forces.
Despite these positive signs, most carriers remain cautious and continue to indicate that a full return to Red Sea transits is not yet on the horizon. Even so, the reinstatement of select eastbound services suggests that a gradual normalisation of Asia–Europe shipping patterns could emerge next year.
The Killick Martin team will continue to monitor developments closely and share updates as the situation evolves.
