According to Xeneta, the French liner is increasing its test voyages (especially Eastbound) in view of the resumption of pre-crisis rotations in the Red Sea.

The return of Suez  Canal routes to pre-Gaza crisis frequency is one of the hottest topics in global shipping. Operators are extremely cautious, fearing that an abrupt return to traditional schedules could lead to congestion, overcapacity, and a collapse in rates. Nonetheless, albeit discreetly, steps are being taken in this direction, at least according to analyst Xeneta. Where Major carrier CMA CGM has announced its INDAMEX service will transit Suez Canal on fronthaul and backhaul voyages between India/Pakistan and US East Coast in a notable step towards a largescale return of container ships to the Red Sea region.

The first vessel to complete a full service loop via Suez Canal will be CMA CGM VERDI, sailing from Karachi to New York on 15 January. eeSea by Xeneta data shows voyages via Suez Canal rather than Cape of Good Hope reduces full loop transit time on this service by two weeks, down to 77 days.

 Ocean Alliance is restructuring the Far East – Europe Med2 service

Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta – the ocean freight intelligence platform - said noted that Ocean Alliance is restructuring the Far East – Europe Med2 service, which will see the first official passage via Suez on February 10 with the 15,254 TEU vessel CMA CGM Kimberley. This new version of the service includes a westbound circumnavigation of Africa via the Good Hope and an eastbound passage through the Mediterranean and via Suez, with a one-week reduction in the round-trip time to 98 days, along with a reduction in one ship slot to 14. At present, there are no indications of a change in average vessel capacity,” a statement reads.

“We have seen carriers, particularly CMA CGM, testing the water recently by transiting Suez Canal on a select few voyages, particularly backhaul legs to Asia when there is less cargo onboard.

“Until now, these transits via Suez Canal have been on a case-by-case basis, diverting voyages originally scheduled to sail around Cape of Good Hope. CMA CGM’s announcement this week is important because it is a structural change with a service proforma to transit Suez Canal on every sailing.”

Four more vessels on the INDAMEX service

Four more vessels on the INDAMEX service (APL OREGON, CMA CGM PASSION, APL LE HAVRE, CMA CGM MAUPASSANT) will make eastbound transits via Suez before the new rotation takes full effect.

There are also eastbound transits of Suez Canal by other CMA CGM vessels, including CMA CGM JULES VERNE, APL CHANGI, CMA CGM GALAPAGOS, CMA CGM GRACE BAY, APL MERLION and CMA CGM KIMBERLEY, however only the latter two are ‘official’ or proforma passages.

Carriers will be carrying out risk assessments 

Other major carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, have not announced a firm timeline for a largescale Red Sea return, while ZIM has stated it is waiting for insurance approval.

Sand has warned the latest announcement by CMA CGM does not automatically mean an imminent large-scale return of container shipping to the Red Sea. The number of container ships transiting Suez Canal in November 2025 was 120, down from 583 in October 2023, shortly before the escalation of attacks on merchant ships in the region by Houthi Militia.

He said: “Carriers will be carrying out risk assessments and the security situation remains fragile. The assessment will look at the Houthi’s ability, opportunity and intent to attack ships. We know they have the ability, but carriers will want assurance over their intent, especially because the opportunity will increase as more ships begin sailing through the region.”

The shorter transit time on a full loop via Suez on the CMA CGM INDAMEX means two ships will be dropped from the service – a pre-cursor for the impact a largescale return would have on container shipping capacity and freight rates.

Sand said: “There is already overcapacity of supply in the ocean container shipping market and spot rates are falling even without a largescale return to the Red Sea. Average spot rates on Far East fronthauls to US East Coast and North Europe are down 57% and 53% respectively compared to a year ago.

“If we see other carriers follow CMA CGM, then capacity will flood the market and we could see freight rates fall hard. This could push carriers further towards loss-making territory, but they will be fully aware of this outlook and ready to respond.”

Four "trial" passages via Suez are scheduled for four ships 

Before the Kimberly, however, four "trial" passages via Suez are scheduled for four ships (three CMA CGM and one APL) engaged in the service. Furthermore, the first passage through Suez of the APL Merlion as part of CMA CGM's FAL1 service has just been confirmed for January 5th. Also in the Middle East-North America corridor, the Indamex service, four eastbound trial passages will be carried out before the official return, starting January 14th, of the rotation via Suez both eastbound and westbound. According to Xeneta, these are clear signs of CMA CGM's acceleration in the return to using Suez, while the analyst still appears cautious about the positions of other carriers and alliances such as Maersk,, Gemini, and Premier Alliance.

The transport demands on the fleet.

 On the other hand according to Adam Yanelli, Senior Reporter at ICIS, most commercial shipping stopped using the Suez Canal just more than two years ago because of missile and drone attacks from Yemen-backed Houthi rebels, who were attacking vessels affiliated with Israel. Longer sailing distances around the Cape of Good Hope are currently absorbing around 2 million TEU (20-foot equivalent units) of global container shipping capacity and increasing the transport demands on the fleet.

 At the time the Linerlytica said CMA CGM remains the only main carrier to test the early return to the Suez Canal  with three of its Asia-Europe and Mediterranean services set to resume eastbound voyages from the end of December.

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Suez Canal , CMA CGM ,Xeneta. Linerlytica , CMA CGM Kimberley , Maersk , ocean container shipping , Ocean Alliance ,Adam Yanell ,Peter Sand , INDAMEX service