Maersk Suspends Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz Transits

Danish shipping giant Maersk announced Sunday it is suspending vessel transits through the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb, rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope after US and Israeli strikes on Iran heightened regional security risks.

In a statement, the world’s second-largest container carrier said it had “decided to temporarily pause sailings through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East following escalating military conflict.”

Maersk had already indicated on Friday that it would temporarily reroute some services away from the Suez Canal because of emergency conditions in the Red Sea. Sunday’s announcement broadens that measure into a full suspension along the corridor, a vital artery linking Asia and Europe.

The Suez route is central to global container trade, shaving roughly 10–14 days off voyages compared with sailing around southern Africa. Diversions via the Cape of Good Hope significantly increase fuel costs, transit times, and scheduling complexity, pressures likely to ripple through supply chains.

Only last month, Maersk had announced a gradual return of certain services to the Suez route, signaling cautious optimism after nearly two years of global trade disruption caused by attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.

That tentative normalization now appears reversed.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary measures,” the company said.

Regarding services connecting the Middle East with India, the Mediterranean, and the US East Coast, Maersk stated that it would prioritize restoring Suez routings once security conditions improve.

The company further confirmed a suspension of all sailings through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. It warned that services calling at Gulf ports may experience delays, rerouting, or schedule adjustments.

Despite the disruptions, Maersk said it continues to accept cargo bound for the Middle East, signaling that logistics operations remain active albeit under revised routing strategies.

The combined suspension of Bab el-Mandeb, Suez, and Hormuz transits represents a major shock to maritime logistics. Together, these waterways handle a substantial share of global oil shipments, containerized goods, and LNG cargoes.