Containerships Return to Suez Canal Route
Weekly Suez Canal transits have surged as Asia-Europe container capacity moves back from the Cape of Good Hope diversion.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Transportation
53 containerships transited the Suez Canal in the week ended 1 Nov, up 130% from the same week of 2025. Asia-Europe container capacity had diverted toward the Cape of Good Hope for nearly three years.
Why it matters
The return of capacity to Suez reverses a long diversion that lengthened Asia-Europe shipping routes. The shift bears directly on how container freight moves between the two regions.
Suez transits were up 130% versus the same week of 2025, with 60% of Asia-Europe container capacity now on the route. Five consecutive weeks have exceeded 50 transits, and the latest three-week average is 57.
The players
Drewry
Drewry is a London-based shipping consultancy that publishes the Red Sea Diversion Tracker and Container Capacity Insight.
The details
Containerships are returning from the Cape of Good Hope route to the Suez route after nearly three years of diversions. Weekly insight on the Strait of Hormuz, Cape of Good Hope and Panama Canal is tracked in Container Capacity Insight.
Timeline
Nearly three years ago, Asia-Europe capacity began diverting from Suez.
Week ended 1 November 2026: 53 containerships transited the Suez Canal.
Week of 1 November 2025: comparison week for the 130% transit increase.
Latest three weeks: average of 57 Suez transits recorded.
Drewry's Red Sea Diversion Tracker updates every other Tuesday.
Market Landscape
The Cape of Good Hope diversion that began nearly three years ago lengthened Asia-Europe container routes across the global shipping network. Capacity returning to Suez now marks a reversal of that long-running shift in the trade lane.
Shippers moving goods between Asia and Europe may see routing changes as capacity returns to the Suez route. Freight planning that accounted for Cape of Good Hope transit times may need to be revisited as the diversion unwinds.
The takeaway
Watching weekly Suez transit counts offers an early read on whether Asia-Europe container capacity is staying on the shorter route. Shippers tracking freight costs can use the trend to judge when Cape of Good Hope surcharges and diversions may ease.
Further reading
Explore more on Transportation for context on global shipping routes and freight movement.
