Red Sea poised for container ships’ return with CMA CGM’s full-loop service via Suez Canal

December 5, 2025, by Melisa Cavcic

Xeneta, an ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform transforming the shipping and logistics industry, is convinced that the return of container ships to the Red Sea is edging closer, as France’s shipping giant CMA CGM, as a major carrier, reveals a new full-loop service via Suez Canal.

After CMA CGM announced its INDAMEX service would transit Suez Canal on fronthaul and backhaul voyages between India/Pakistan and U.S. East Coast in a notable step towards a large-scale return of container ships to the Red Sea region, Xeneta emphasizes that the first vessel to complete a full service loop via Suez Canal will be CMA CGM Verdi, sailing from Karachi to New York on January 15, 2026.

Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta, commented: “We are still some way from a largescale return of container shipping to the Red Sea, but CMA CGM’s announcement of a full east-west loop via Suez is certainly a notable step in the right direction.

“We have seen carriers, particularly CMA CGM, testing the water recently by transiting Suez Canal on a select few voyages, particularly backhaul legs to Asia when there is less cargo onboard.”

CMA CGM INDAMEX service – current loop via Cape of Good Hope; Source: Xeneta

eeSea by Xeneta data shows voyages via Suez Canal rather than Cape of Good Hope reduces full loop transit time on this service by two weeks, down to 77 days. Four more vessels on the INDAMEX service – APL Oregon, CMA CGM Passion, APL Le Havre, and CMA CGM Maupassant – will make eastbound transits via Suez before the new rotation takes full effect.

There are also eastbound transits of Suez Canal by other CMA CGM vessels, including CMA CGM Jules Verne, APL Changi, CMA CGM Galapagos, CMA CGM Grace Bay, APL Merlion, and CMA CGM Kimberley, however, only the latter two are ‘official’ or proforma passages.

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“Until now, these transits via Suez Canal have been on a case-by-case basis, diverting voyages originally scheduled to sail around Cape of Good Hope. CMA CGM’s announcement this week is important because it is a structural change with a service proforma to transit Suez Canal on every sailing,” highlighted Sand.

Other major carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, have not announced a firm timeline for a large-scale Red Sea return, while ZIM has stated it is waiting for insurance approval. Sand warns that the latest announcement by CMA CGM does not automatically mean an imminent full-scale return of container shipping to the Red Sea.

Xeneta claims that the number of container ships transiting Suez Canal in November 2025 was 120, down from 583 in October 2023, shortly before the escalation of attacks on merchant ships in the region by Houthi Militia.

Sand underscored: “Carriers will be carrying out risk assessments and the security situation remains fragile. The assessment will look at the Houthi’s ability, opportunity and intent to attack ships. We know they have the ability, but carriers will want assurance over their intent, especially because the opportunity will increase as more ships begin sailing through the region.”

According to the ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform, the shorter transit time on a full loop via Suez on the CMA CGM INDAMEX means two ships will be dropped from the service, a pre-cursor for the impact a large-scale return would have on container shipping capacity and freight rates.

CMA CGM INDAMEX service – new loop via Suez Canal (as of January 14, 2026); Source: Xeneta

Sand noted: “There is already overcapacity of supply in the ocean container shipping market and spot rates are falling even without a largescale return to the Red Sea. Average spot rates on Far East fronthauls to US East Coast and North Europe are down 57% and 53% respectively compared to a year ago.

“If we see other carriers follow CMA CGM, then capacity will flood the market and we could see freight rates fall hard. This could push carriers further towards loss-making territory, but they will be fully aware of this outlook and ready to respond.”