Red Sea Shipping Return Raises Congestion Risks for European Ports

The gradual return of container shipping to Red Sea and Suez Canal routes is creating capacity planning challenges for Northern European and Mediterranean ports, with industry analysts warning that a rapid return could trigger congestion at already-stretched terminals.

Maersk’s structural return to the trans-Suez corridor with its MECL service from 15 January marks the first major carrier commitment to resuming regular Red Sea transits. However, the MECL service connects Middle East and India with the US East Coast rather than the Asia-Europe trade – meaning broader implications for European ports remain tied to when carriers resume full Asia-Europe services via Suez.

The disruption that began in late 2023 saw container ship traffic through the Suez Canal fall by approximately 75% compared to pre-crisis levels, according to project44 data. By mid-2024, tonnage transiting the Suez Canal was down 70% while Cape of Good Hope arrivals had surged 89%, according to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2024.