November 14, 2026. Container ships are returning to the Suez Canal at the fastest pace since the Red Sea crisis began. Lloyd's List Intelligence's Red Sea Brief of November 12 counted 426 container ship transits in October, against 315 in September and 230 in October 2025. Evergreen, the last Ocean Alliance member to come back, returned on November 8 after almost three years away.
October in numbers
- 1,338 total Suez transits, carrying 125.6 million deadweight tonnes.
- Tonnage up 18 % on September and 63 % on October 2025.
- Still 34 % below the pre-crisis monthly average; from January to November 2023, about 2,009 ships a month crossed.
- At Bab el-Mandeb, tonnage rose 17 % on the month and is 46 % below pre-crisis levels, with container ships, not tankers, leading the recovery.
Evergreen and the Ever Eon
EnterpriseAM Egypt, citing the Suez Canal Authority, reports that the 16,600-TEU Ever Eon crossed on Sunday, November 8, in the northbound convoy on a Rotterdam-Singapore voyage, and that Evergreen plans to shift more sailings to the canal gradually. Canal revenue rose 94 % year on year in October to 724 million dollars, the highest monthly figure since the crisis began.
SupplyChainBrain reported that almost all major carriers have resumed Asia-Europe services through the Red Sea. Freightos head of research Judah Levine called it "a significant return" and noted that "It's a lot more expensive to go around the Cape." The Cape of Good Hope route adds 10 to 12 days to a typical Asia-Europe voyage.
Risks remain
Lloyd's List Intelligence says the threat in the Red Sea "remains substantial" and about half of container ships cross with tracking switched off. UKMTO has recorded no attacks since August 24, but an explosion of unknown cause was seen at Bab el-Mandeb on November 6. The report also warns of overcapacity as shorter routes free up ships while demand slows.
Our take
Most Chinese cargo for Latin America sails across the Pacific, not through Suez. But ships freed from the long African detour compete on other lanes, which favors buyers negotiating first-quarter 2027 shipments.
- Quote sea freight with at least two carriers and get validity in writing.
- Use our sourcing team to line up suppliers before Chinese New Year closures.
- Book a product inspection: cheap freight does not make up for defective goods.
