ICIS reports that the recent announcement of a pause in attacks on commercial vessels has not yet created the conditions for an immediate return to Red Sea transits. According to the update, shipping lines continue to evaluate the situation cautiously, noting that earlier declarations of reduced hostilities this year did not lead to lasting stability.
Industry analysts referenced in the report indicated that interest in resuming the shorter route through the Suez Canal has increased among carriers, but the environment has not shifted enough to enable decisive operational changes. Current data shared in the analysis shows that vessel transits through the canal remain lower than expected for 2025, reflecting ongoing concerns within the sector.
The ICIS coverage also noted that the diversion of container vessels around the southern tip of Africa continues to absorb substantial capacity. This shift has kept nearly 2 million TEU away from the Red Sea corridor, influencing the balance of vessel deployment and overall schedule reliability across major shipping networks.
Further insights in the report highlighted that a rapid return of ships to the Red Sea could lead to significant capacity adjustments across global routes. Market assessments referenced by ICIS mentioned the sensitivity of freight rates to sudden changes in available capacity, noting that carriers may adjust operations through measures such as slow steaming, blank sailings, or modifications to fleet utilization depending on how the situation progresses.
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Source: Egyptian Presidency
