TOH edition: Friday, 25 September 2026 · Economy & Work
Imagine the World's Shortcut Reopening Ship by Ship: Maersk Sent 67 Vessels Through Suez This Month — Up From Eight a Year Ago
Reported by FreightWaves
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The Suez Canal Authority reports 1,358 vessels transited the canal in August 2026, up 27% from 1,070 a year earlier, with net tonnage up 51% and revenue up 56.7% to $567.1 million. At a 23 September meeting with 20 shipping lines, Maersk said its transits rose to 67 in September from eight in September 2025; COSCO's 24,188-TEU OOCL Portugal made the line's first southbound Suez passage since the Red Sea crisis on 16 September. Recovery remains incomplete and Red Sea risks persist.
Despite war and Houthi threats, the world's largest carriers are measurably returning to the shortest Asia–Europe route — shorter voyages, released capacity and a working chokepoint while the Middle East story reads only as escalation.
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