Sea-Intelligence’s October 2025 global schedule reliability report covering 34 trade lanes, shows a 3.5 percentage point decline in schedule reliability, dropping to 61.4%.
“This is only the second major M/M decline in 2025 and comes after three consecutive months of stable global schedule reliability. On a Y/Y level, schedule reliability was up 11.1 percentage points,” said Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence.
Among the top-13 carriers, Maersk led with an on-time performance of 74.1%. Hapag-Lloyd and MSC followed in the 60-70% range, while nine carriers fell in the 50-60% range. PIL ranked lowest at 44.9%, creating a 29.2 percentage-point gap in on-time performance between the most and the least reliable carrier.
Recent announcements suggest a resumption of voyages through the Red Sea, which will inevitably have an impact on schedule reliability metrics. Xeneta reported that CMA CGM plans to route its INDAMEX service via the Suez Canal on both fronthaul and backhaul voyages between India/Pakistan and the U.S. East Coast.
The Loadstar added that a second Ocean Alliance service will resume Suez transits. OOCL sent an advisory advising customers that the voyages returning to Asia on the LL4 service will resume passage via the Suez Canal.
Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta, cautioned that in the case of CMA CGM, the ocean carrier’s move does not signal an immediate “large-scale return” to the Red Sea.
He noted that carriers would need assurance as the opportunity to attack ships would grow with more sailings through the region. “Carriers will be carrying out risk assessments, and the security situation remains fragile,” he shared.
According to a report published by the American Journal of Transportation, other major carriers, including Gemini Cooperation partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, have not committed to a timeline for Red Sea transits. Zim, meanwhile, is awaiting insurance approval.
Maersk’s December North America Market Update confirmed its cautious stance. “We currently have no specific timing to change the East-West (Gemini) network to sail through the Red Sea,” the update said.
Source: Sea-Intelligence, Xeneta, The Loadstar, American Journal of Transportation, Maersk