Alphaliner: 63% of Far East–Europe capacity deployed on services using Red Sea route

November 2 ------ Containerships are returning to the Red Sea, with 63% of Far East–Europe capacity deployed on services using the route, according to Alphaliner.

As explain in Alphaliner’s latest analysis, major container carriers are gradually restoring services through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, following the widespread diversions around the Cape of Good Hope prompted by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. The analysis examined the routing patterns of the world’s ten largest container carriers on the Far East–Europe trade between 15 September and 15 October 2026.

Red Sea transits observed on 24 of 46 services

During this period, containerships transiting the Red Sea were observed on 24 of the 46 direct services operated by these carriers between the Far East and Europe.

In capacity terms, services incorporating Red Sea transits accounted for 5.50 million TEU, representing 63% of the total 8.70 million TEU deployed on the trade.

Mediterranean services lead the return to Suez

The findings reveal differences in the pace of the return to the Red Sea across major European trade lanes.

On the Far East–Mediterranean trade, services incorporating Red Sea transits accounted for approximately 70% of deployed capacity, compared with 58% on Far East–North Europe routes.

Carriers continue to adopt mixed routing patterns

Alphaliner emphasized that the return to the Suez route remains gradual, with carriers continuing to operate mixed routing patterns.

In several cases, vessels sail westbound through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea toward Europe but return eastbound to Asia via the Cape of Good Hope.

Consequently, the proportion of capacity deployed on services using the Red Sea does not necessarily indicate that all vessels or sailings on those services transit the route in both directions.

Nearly three years since Red Sea shipping disruptions began

The findings come as the maritime industry approaches the third anniversary of the hijacking of the car carrier Galaxy Leader by Houthi forces on 19 November 2023.

The incident marked the beginning of a campaign against merchant shipping in the southern Red Sea, launched by the Houthis in connection with the conflict in Gaza.

The resulting security threats prompted major container carriers to divert vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, using the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope.

Alphaliner’s latest assessment indicates that major carriers have been progressively reintroducing Red Sea transits into their Far East–Europe networks, although routing arrangements continue to vary between services and voyage directions.

The analysis covers the ten largest container carriers, including MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO SHIPPING, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen and ZIM.

Source: safety4sea.com