Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced plans to resume using the Suez Canal for their AE12 Asia-Mediterranean service, starting 27 October. The Umm Qarn will be the first vessel to make this journey, operating on voyages 642W westbound and 648E eastbound. This move marks a gradual return to the Suez Canal, which has seen a recovery in traffic but remains below pre-crisis levels.
The updated rotation for the AE12 service will include Ningbo, Shanghai, Tanjung Pelepas, the Suez Canal, Algeciras, Koper, Rijeka, Algeciras, the Suez Canal, and Singapore. The Umm Qarn will leave Tanjung Pelepas, its last Asian call, on 27 October and Algeciras on 5 December. This change is part of a larger effort by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to shift their services from the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal.
The decision to resume Suez Canal routing is subject to a security review under naval protection. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd had previously rerouted some of their services, including AE15 and AE19, which already use the Suez Canal. The two carriers announced on 14 September that four more container services would shift from the Cape of Good Hope to Suez.
Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie reported that 1,358 vessels transited the canal in August, a 27% increase year on year. The net tonnage rose to 68.3 million tons from 45.2 million, and revenue increased to $567.1 million from $326 million. This growth in traffic is a positive sign for the canal, which handles about 12% of global trade.
Other carriers are also considering more Suez Canal transits. A COSCO manager stated that the line is weighing additional transits, with three more ships scheduled. A Yang Ming manager said the line is seriously considering a return, while a shipping agent reported that OOCL expects a trial transit in October.
Maersk's canal transits reached 67 in September, up from eight in September 2025. CMA CGM, which announced a full return to Suez in December, reported that 60 of its vessels passed through the canal in September. Before the crisis, Maersk vessels alone made 1,158 transits through the canal in 2023, carrying 127 million tons of cargo and generating $732.5 million in revenue.
The gradual return of carriers to the Suez Canal is a positive development for the canal and global trade. However, the situation remains fluid, and carriers are stressing that the return is gradual and reversible. The Suez Canal is a critical waterway, and its continued safe and efficient operation is essential for international trade.
Key points
- Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will route their AE12 Asia-Mediterranean service through the Suez Canal from 27 October.
- The Suez Canal has seen a 27% increase in vessel transits in August compared to the previous year.
- Other carriers, including COSCO, Yang Ming, and OOCL, are considering or have already increased their Suez Canal transits.
