With a comprehensive range of global ocean freight forwarding service for FCL and LCL cargoes, the U-Freight Group notes that container sailings through the Suez Canal are showing early signs of a cautious and gradual return, though a full-scale resumption remains some way off.
Major ocean carriers are beginning to test the route, signalling tentative confidence as security risks in the Red Sea slowly ease, but most lines continue to prioritise reliability and risk management over speed.
A limited number of trial voyages have already taken place, including ultra-large container vessels operated by CMA CGM, which are transiting the Red Sea and Suez Canal on a test basis rather than as part of regular service rotations. Maersk has also taken preparatory steps, signing an agreement with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) that would allow a phased return when conditions permit. Last week, OOCL advised about its plans to resume routing eastbound sailings through the Suez later this month.
The SCA, for its part, is actively promoting infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements aimed at encouraging carriers back to the canal. Despite these initiatives, shipping lines remain cautious, citing residual security concerns and broader market conditions. No carrier has yet committed to a definitive timeline for a full return.
Outlook for 2026
Industry analysts anticipate a slow and incremental increase in Suez Canal transits during early 2026, rather than a sudden shift away from the Cape of Good Hope route. Trial sailings are expected to increase first, with wider service reinstatements following only once risks are consistently reduced.
A full return to the Suez route could initially lead to congestion at European ports, before normalised schedules result in increased capacity and downward pressure on freight rates. However, as many media outlets report, many major carriers were still delaying their return as of December 2025, reinforcing expectations of a phased recovery.
In summary, while the direction of travel points towards a gradual reopening of the Suez Canal for container shipping, volumes are unlikely to approach pre-2023 levels until well into 2026, with carriers taking a measured and risk-aware approach.For more information about our ocean freight forwarding and logistics services, please visit the relevant pages of this website, or contact your local office, which can be seen here: https://www.ufreight.com/en/location
