A.P. Moller-Maersk will resume its Middle East-to-U.S. East Coast container service via the Suez Canal on July 9, 2026. This decision marks a return to the waterway after carriers rerouted around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope following Houthi attacks in late 2023.
Maersk and partner Hapag-Lloyd attribute the move to an improved security situation in the Red Sea. The shift will significantly reduce transit times for global trade.
Westbound sailings will arrive an average of seven days faster. Eastbound journeys will see transit times drop by up to 14 days. This resumption signals a potential return of major shipping lines to the critical trade corridor.