Container carriers hold Red Sea line despite Houthi blockade — for now
- Containership transits through the Bab el Mandeb remained stable last week, with CMA CGM, Maersk and Wan Hai among carriers maintaining trans-Suez sailings
- Dark transits surged to nearly a third of all passages during mid-July tensions before easing slightly, while Thailand’s RCL declared force majeure and cancelled a China-Red Sea sailing
- Analysts warn the fragile calm could unravel quickly, with any further escalation threatening to drive carriers back to Cape of Good Hope routes and deepen the vessel shortage
Boxships are holding their Red Sea transits through the Houthi blockade for now, but any further escalation could quickly drive them to alternatives
