A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world’s second-largest container shipping company, is expanding its return to the Suez Canal, raising prospects for Egypt to rebuild revenue from one of Africa’s most important trade corridors, which generated a record $10.25 billion in 2023.
The Danish shipping giant said it will restore its Middle East-U.S. East Coast service through the Suez Canal, days after announcing a similar move for its jointly operated AE15 Asia-Europe service with Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd.
The latest decision marks another step in the gradual reopening of a route that had been largely abandoned since late 2023, when attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels forced most global shipping lines to divert vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
The company said the return to the shorter trans-Suez route will reduce westbound transit times on the MECL service by an average of seven days, while eastbound voyages will be up to 14 days faster than sailings around southern Africa.
“By making the structural change of returning to the trans-Suez route for the MECL service, we will offer significant improved transit times,” the company said.
