Danish shipping major Maersk has announced that it will resume routing its Middle East-to-U.S. East Coast service through the Suez Canal, marking another significant step in the gradual restoration of commercial shipping through the Red Sea.
The company said the decision will substantially reduce transit times, with westbound shipments expected to arrive an average of seven days faster, while eastbound sailings could see transit time improvements of up to 14 days.
According to Maersk, the return to the Suez Canal route will enhance service efficiency for customers moving cargo between India, the Middle East and the U.S. East Coast.
“The route through the Suez and the Red Sea is the fastest, most sustainable and most efficient way to serve customers with transport between India, Middle East and the U.S. East Coast,” the company said in a statement.
The move signals growing confidence among global shipping lines in the gradual normalization of navigation through the Red Sea after months of disruptions that forced vessels to divert around the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in longer transit times, higher fuel consumption and increased freight costs.
The resumption is expected to improve schedule reliability, reduce logistics costs and strengthen trade connectivity between Asia, the Middle East and the eastern seaboard of the United States.