All four major shipping alliances resume Suez Canal transits, marking a significant recovery milestone in Red Sea operations.
The reopening of the Red Sea has reached a critical milestone, with all four major shipping alliances - Gemini, Ocean Alliance, Premier Alliance, and MSC - resuming operations via the Suez Canal. Premier Alliance, previously cautious, has now confirmed its return with vessel-specific schedules, completing the transition of major carriers from intent to active execution.
Premier Alliance has announced the resumption of two Asia-to-Mediterranean services. The MD1 service, connecting Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean, will be operated by YM TRUST on Voyage 0106, with the first loading in Ningbo on 10 November and an estimated arrival in Damietta, Egypt, on 7 December. The MS2 service, linking Asia with the broader Mediterranean, will be operated by ONE SYNERGY on Voyage 003, starting in Qingdao on 16 November and reaching Piraeus, Greece, by 28 December. Both services include key ports like Singapore and the Suez Canal in their rotations. ONE has emphasized that vessel routing will remain flexible based on the Middle East's security conditions.
Yang Ming has outlined its phased Red Sea return, starting with vessels departing Asia on 11 November and reaching the Gulf of Aden by 28 November. By year-end, Yang Ming plans to restore two Mediterranean and one Northwest Europe service, representing 30-40 percent of its Europe-bound capacity. Evergreen is reportedly planning trial voyages via the Red Sea in November, though official announcements remain pending.
According to Alphaliner, 63 percent of Far East-to-Europe services operated by top liners resumed Red Sea transits in mid-October, with Suez Canal capacity recovering to over 50 percent of pre-crisis levels. Drewry estimates canal volumes will reach 80 percent of normal by February 2027, with full resumption across Maersk services expected by March 2027.
The resumption of Suez Canal transits is increasing vessel capacity, influencing freight rates amidst November's announced rate hikes. Estimated arrival times are likely to fluctuate, and shippers are advised to confirm voyage details directly with carriers. The interplay between rising capacities and rate adjustments will shape pricing dynamics in the coming months.
