General
September recorded 314 containership crossings through Bab el-Mandeb, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. This was 64.4% above the same month last year and the highest monthly total since attacks began in late 2023. More than 140 containerships, representing over two million TEU of capacity, have returned to the Suez route since May.
Further returns are planned. ONE’s FE1 and IOX services are scheduled to resume westbound Suez passages in November, with shorter round trips. For UK importers and exporters, reduced diversions around southern Africa could shorten journeys and release shipping capacity as vessels complete rotations more quickly.
Security concerns nevertheless remain substantial. The Chinese-operated CUL Klang was reportedly fired upon near Mocha on 7 October, although its crew were unharmed and responsibility remains unconfirmed. Fighting around Bab el-Mandeb has also intensified, placing renewed pressure on this strategically important shipping corridor.
Elsewhere, further tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and repeated attacks on Riyadh airport have widened regional disruption. Saudi authorities also confirmed an attack on Dammam airport on 11 October, complicating the wider transport picture.
The improving traffic figures therefore sit alongside a rapidly changing security situation. Businesses should confirm individual service routings and transit times rather than assume a full return to Suez. Contact the Croft Cargo team to discuss current options and plan your forthcoming shipments.
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