Official announcement! The resumption date for Red Sea shipping has been set: the voyage will begin on January 15.

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2025-12-12 17:31

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The journey can save 15%.

According to the latest information from Huijetong: French shipping company CMA CGM has announced that, starting January 15 of next year, ... ， The company’s INDAMEX route, which serves the India-Middle East-East Coast of the U.S., will once again use the Suez Canal route, effectively resuming navigation through the Red Sea.

It is estimated that the total round-trip voyage duration will be reduced from 91 days to 77 days. According to analysis by seasoned industry experts, a 15% reduction in ship sailing days could lead to significant cost savings. Unless there are any special unforeseen circumstances, most shipping companies are expected to return to the Red Sea in the first quarter of next year.

This industry insider believes that with CMA CGM’s significant reduction in operating costs, its competitiveness in the market will markedly improve, undoubtedly attracting other shipping lines to follow suit. Currently, companies including ZIM, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd have already indicated they are preparing to return to the Red Sea. Hapag-Lloyd also pointed out that after returning to the Red Sea, ship transit times will be shortened, and earlier arrivals could lead to port congestion. As a result, shipping lines are likely to adjust their schedules by scheduling more flights during the off-season—when there are relatively fewer voyages available following the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The INDAMEX route is a second-tier service operated by CMA CGM. A total of 11 vessels are deployed on this route, each with a capacity ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 TEUs (20-foot containers). The route covers Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the western coast of India, and after calling at Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia, it continues to U.S. East Coast ports. The first vessel to complete the entire route via the Suez Canal is the "CMA CGM VERDI," which is scheduled to depart from Karachi, Pakistan, on January 15 bound for New York.

According to data from eeSea, a voyage via the Suez Canal can shorten the travel time compared to a route through the Cape of Good Hope. Total sailing time Significantly shorten by two weeks The total number of sailing days has been reduced to 77 days.

CMA CGM’s recent public announcement of the resumption of its Red Sea route is seen as an important signal of industry recovery. Xeneta’s chief analyst, Peter Sand, commented: “CMA CGM’s announcement that it will now offer a complete east-west route loop via the Suez Canal is undoubtedly a significant step in the right direction.”

In fact, even before the Red Sea crisis erupted and when oil prices were low, some shipping companies arranged for their return vessels to take the Cape of Good Hope route in order to naturally reduce sailings and save on Suez Canal transit fees. For outbound voyages, however, ships still used the Suez Canal due to strict cargo delivery deadlines.

The northbound toll for the Suez Canal is US$1.45 million, while the southbound toll is US$1.15 million. Following the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis, the canal authorities temporarily reduced tolls by 15% in an effort to encourage shipping companies to resume operations.

According to a report by Lloyd's List, in November alone, the number of ship transits through the Suez Canal exceeded 1,000, reaching the highest level since January 2024 and maintaining an upward trend for three consecutive months, roughly recovering to 40% to 50% of pre-crisis levels. Another set of data shows that in November 2025, only 120 container ships transited the Suez Canal, compared to 583 ships in October 2023, just before the outbreak of Houthi armed attacks.

According to a report by the Securities Times, insurance brokerage firms noted that the war-risk surcharge for the Red Sea shipping route has been steadily declining—from about 0.5% to 0.7% of the vessel’s value at its peak in 2024 down to roughly 0.2% currently, the lowest level in nearly two years, thereby creating favorable conditions for ships to resume operations in the Red Sea.

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