# Asia-Europe: Increased Suez Traffic Intensifies Pressure on Freight Rates

**Category:** Industry News  |  **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion  |  **Published:** 2026-10-08  |  **Updated:** 2026-10-22

**Tags:** Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Digitalisierung

> More Suez traffic brings capacity back to Asia–Europe. This puts pressure on rates, while port congestion and blank sailings could quickly reverse the picture.

---

Two developments are converging on the Asia-Europe route. First, container spot rates have been under pressure for approximately three months. Second, more shipping lines and large container ships are again transiting through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

Gemini, together with Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, has switched several services back to Suez routing. CMA CGM, MSC, and Cosco have also shown increased presence on individual connections in the Red Sea.

When ships transit through Suez instead of around the Cape of Good Hope, transit time decreases. This arithmetically frees up ship capacity. This can put additional pressure on freight rates.

For shippers, this initially sounds favorable. Nevertheless, one should not assume that rates will only continue to fall. Port congestion, Golden Week, blank sailings, and possible new security issues can quickly create capacity shortages again.

Blank sailing means that a shipping line removes a scheduled departure from its schedule. This can quickly reduce available capacity in the short term.

For 2027 contract negotiations, this exact mix will be interesting: greater nominal capacity, but continued high uncertainty on individual routes.

---

Don't just look at FAK list rates, but obtain genuine spot offers.

With long-term contracts, pay attention to minimum volumes and surcharges.

Suez return can shorten transit times, but schedules remain flexible for now.

In short: More capacity drives rates down, but the market can still turn quickly.

---

Asia-Europe rates have been under pressure for roughly three months.

More large container ships are returning to Suez routes.

Gemini has reactivated several services via Suez.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are members of the Gemini Cooperation.

CMA CGM, MSC and Cosco are also increasingly using Suez routes.

Shorter Suez routes mathematically free up capacity.

Golden Week can change demand in the short term.

Blank sailings can reduce capacity again.

Port congestion remains an important countereffect.

## Related Entities

### Countries

- [Egypt](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/eg)
- [India](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/in)
- [Malaysia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/my)
- [Singapore](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/sg)
- [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn)

### Glossary

- [ROPA](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/ropa)
- [TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/teu-twenty-foot-equivalent-unit)
- [Spot Rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/spot-rate)
- [Blank Sailing](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/blank-sailing)
- [Suez Canal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/suez-canal)
- [Golden Week](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/golden-week)
- [FAK Rate (Freight All Kinds)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/fak-rate-freight-all-kinds)

---

*Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/asieneuropa-mehr-suez-verkehre-erhoehen-den-druck-auf-die-frachtraten-20261004063521](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/asieneuropa-mehr-suez-verkehre-erhoehen-den-druck-auf-die-frachtraten-20261004063521)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/asieneuropa-mehr-suez-verkehre-erhoehen-den-druck-auf-die-frachtraten-20261004063521](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/asieneuropa-mehr-suez-verkehre-erhoehen-den-druck-auf-die-frachtraten-20261004063521)*