Market note

Carriers return to the Red Sea step by step, with a full Suez return expected in Q1

Container lines are moving back to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, one service at a time. Premier Alliance ships are booked through the Red Sea from November, and estimates point to a full return in the first quarter. What it means for cargo from Asia to Latakia.

Premier Alliance via Red Sea from NovemberFull return expected in Q1Asia–Med FBX USD 3,927/FEU

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Published 2026-10-26 · MIDTRANS SHIPPING AND SERVICES

Reviewed by Khaldoun Al-Khouli, General Manager

Carriers returning

Almost all major lines are preparing Suez transits on Asia–Europe.

From November

Premier Alliance vessels are booked through the Red Sea.

Rates

Asia–Mediterranean up 3% to USD 3,927/FEU (Freightos, 20 Oct).

For Latakia

Suez routings cut transit from Asia by about a month.

The return

Carriers move back to Suez, service by service

Almost all global ocean carriers are preparing a tentative return to Suez Canal transits on Asia–Europe sailings, Container Signal reported on 2 October, citing The Loadstar. Revised schedules show Premier Alliance vessels booked through the Red Sea from November: the 8,100 TEU ONE Continuity on the FE1 service leaves Laem Chabang on 19 October, is due at Suez on 9 November and in Rotterdam on 19 November.

Linerlytica estimates that 140 container ships, just over 2 million TEU of capacity, have switched from the Cape of Good Hope to Suez since May. Freightos wrote on 21 October that carriers continue a steady march back through Suez, with estimates that transits will fully recover during Q1.

Rates

Spot rates in the Freightos update of 20 October

The Freightos Baltic Index rose on Asia–Europe in the week: Asia–North Europe up 6% to USD 3,442 per FEU, and Asia–Mediterranean up 3% to USD 3,927 per FEU. For the Drewry index of 8 October, see our earlier note.

Asia–N. Europe: USD 3,442/FEU, +6%
Asia–Mediterranean: USD 3,927/FEU, +3%
Full Suez recovery expected in Q1

Caution

A gradual return, not a switch

The return is uneven. Security around Bab el-Mandeb remains contested, and individual services can change routing at short notice. A schedule through Suez is a plan until the vessel has transited.

For shippers

What it means for sea freight from Asia to Latakia

For Syria the gain is mainly time. Our office estimate for sea transit from East Asian ports to Latakia and Tartous is about 40 days when the service runs through the Red Sea and Suez, against about 70 days around the Cape. As more services return, Mediterranean sailings should become shorter and more regular; Asia–Mediterranean rates are the closest benchmark for Latakia.

MIDTRANS books China to Syria and Asia–Latakia cargo and states the routing, Suez or Cape, in each quote.

Sources

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are container lines going back through the Red Sea?

Yes, gradually. Almost all major carriers are preparing Suez transits on Asia–Europe, and Premier Alliance vessels are booked through the Red Sea from November.

When will Suez traffic be back to normal?

Freightos reported estimates that transits will fully recover during the first quarter.

What are Asia–Mediterranean spot rates?

The Freightos Baltic Index for Asia–Mediterranean rose 3% to USD 3,927 per FEU in the update of 20 October 2026.

How does this affect shipping from China to Latakia?

Mainly through transit time: about 40 days via Suez against about 70 around the Cape, by our office estimate. We confirm the routing with each quote.

Shipping from Asia to Syria?

Send us the cargo details and we will confirm the routing, the transit time and the price.

Request a freight quote Contact our operations desk