В сентябре 2026, 314 container vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, marking a 14.6% month-on-month increase and a 64.4% year-on-year jump – the highest monthly total since the onset of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
As more liner carriers redirect services back to the Suez Canal route and large container vessels accelerate their return, the supply-demand balance on Asia-Europe trade lanes is starting to shift.
Large Container Vessels Lead the Return
According to Lloyd’s List reporting on October 7, citing Lloyd’s List Intelligence data, 124 vessels of 7,000 TEU and above transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September. Compared with the same period in 2025, transit volumes for this vessel size category increased by 107 ships year on year.
Однако, the route has not fully returned to normal operations. В сентябре, 139 сосуды transited the strait with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off, accounting for 44.3% of the month’s total traffic. Of those, 108 were vessels of 7,000 TEU and above.
Premier Alliance Joins Suez Return With Two Asia-Europe Loops
Список Ллойда, citing Alphaliner data, reports that the Премьер Альянс – consisting of ONE, HMM and Yang Ming – plans to adjust two Asia–North Europe services to sail in both directions via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
- FE1 service (Southeast Asia – North Europe): To be first operated by the ONE Continuity on the new routing, with the first westbound Suez transit scheduled for ноябрь 9. The round-trip cycle will shorten from 13 weeks to 11 недели.
- IOX service (Indian Subcontinent – North Europe): To be first operated by the ONE Reliability, with the first westbound Suez transit scheduled for ноябрь 17. The round-trip cycle will shorten from 13 weeks to 10 недели.
Ранее, тот Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd also announced adjustments to three Asia-Europe services – AE12, AE11 and AE5 – adding Suez Canal transits to their schedules.
COSCO Shipping is also restoring related services. В сентябре 16, тот OOCL Portugal transited the Suez Canal bound for China; on October 4, тот OOCL Spain also completed a Suez Canal passage.
Над 2 Million TEU of Capacity Returns, Pressuring Asia-Europe Rates
Linerlytica estimates that since May 2026, more than 140 container ships totaling over 2 млн ДФЭ of capacity have returned to the Suez Canal route.
В настоящее время, примерно 35% of Asia-Europe sailings use the Red Sea route, with varying shares by direction. As fewer vessels reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, shorter sailing distances are releasing more effective capacity back into the market. Тем временем, nearly 200,000 TEU of newbuild container ship capacity entered the market in September.
Linerlytica notes that due to fewer reroutings and blank sailing arrangements around China’s National Day holiday, TEU-mile demand growth has now fallen below capacity supply growth, turning its market indicator negative for the first time since January 2026.
Для экспедиторов, the recovery of Red Sea routes is expected to shorten transit times on some Asia-Europe services. Однако, rising capacity may also put further downward pressure on freight rates. The actual market impact remains subject to ongoing observation.
Asia-Europe & Red Sea Shipping Solutions From Huazong Logistics
As a professional ocean freight forwarder with deep Asia-Europe trade lane expertise, Хуазонг Логистика helps shippers navigate shifting Red Sea route dynamics and rate volatility with stable, flexible shipping solutions:
- Dual Routing Options – Both Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope routing options available, with transparent transit time and cost comparisons to help you balance speed and budget.
- Guaranteed Carrier Space – Confirmed booking allocations with major alliance and independent carriers, even during peak demand and route transition periods.
- Rate Lock & Прогнозирование – Spot and contracted rate structures with proactive market outlook updates, helping you plan ahead amid rate fluctuation.
- Сквозная видимость – Отслеживание судов в режиме реального времени, transit alerts and milestone updates across the entire shipment journey.
- Full Service Coverage – FCL, LCL, special cargo and door-to-door solutions across all major European and Mediterranean ports.
For businesses shipping between Asia and Europe amid the Red Sea route recovery, партнерство с Huazong Logistics обеспечивает надежность, cost-optimized ocean freight solutions.
