Container shipping lines are laying the groundwork for service restructuring in anticipation of resuming transits through the Suez Canal and Red Seas, according to a news report published by Seatrade Maritime News in collaboration with MDS Transmodal.
The global container ship orderbook for 2025 has surpassed 10 million TEUs. However, demand-side projections indicate a slowdown in global trade growth in 2026. As Seatrade Maritime News reported, ocean carriers are preparing to manage excess capacity by extending pendulum services and making more direct port calls.
Seatrade Maritime’s report said that analysis of capacity shifts suggests that by late 2025, the North America trade lane will undergo strategic deployment adjustments. The U.S. East Coast is expected to gain prominence in multi-region service patterns, while the West Coast will likely maintain its Far East-centric focus.
Meanwhile, a potential reopening of the Red Sea could release additional capacity just as global container demand begins to soften. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) recently confirmed its readiness to accommodate mega containerships following the safe transit of the CMA CGM JULES VERNE through the Bab El-Mandab Strait.
The SCA reported a strong October performance, with ship transits on the rise. It also announced plans to meet with major shipping lines, stating its intention to support “experimental voyages, partial return, or a multi-phased full return.”
Source: Seatrade Maritime, Suez Canal Authority
The reintroduction of even partial traffic via the Suez Canal - a significantly shorter route compared to the Cape of Good Hope diversion- will positively affect global vessel capacity. In essence, this shorter transit frees up TEU capacity previously tied up on the longer Cape route. This additional capacity would have to be redeployed across global networks, including the Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic trades, contributing to the current overcapacity and exerting downward pressure on freight rates.
