Suez Canal invites container lines back after best month in 2 years

The Suez Canal Authority has reported its strongest rebound in traffic since the regional crisis began, with October seeing the highest vessel return rate since late 2023. Between July and October, canal tonnage rose 10% year-on-year, though ship numbers increased only 2%, reflecting the transit of larger vessels. The SCA met with 20 major shipping lines to encourage renewed use of the canal, with CMA CGM, MSC, and COSCO signalling plans to increase transits as conditions stabilize. However, high insurance costs for the Red Sea route remain a key obstacle to a full return.