Asia-Mediterranean Trade

Shipping Arabia, October 27, 2026 – Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced plans to resume Suez Canal transits on its MD1 and MS2 container shipping services under the Premier Alliance, beginning with selected sailings in November 2026. The decision follows a review of regional security conditions and aims to reduce transit times between Asia and the Mediterranean.

In a customer advisory issued on October 22, ONE outlined revised port rotations for both services, confirming their planned return to the Red Sea and Suez Canal corridor. The changes will affect scheduled voyages linking major Asian container ports with destinations in Egypt, Türkiye and the wider Mediterranean.

The carrier said it will continue monitoring security developments in the Middle East and adjusting its operations when necessary. Crew safety, vessel security and the protection of customer cargo remain central to its routing decisions.

MD1 Service to Resume Suez Canal Route via Sokhna and Damietta

The MD1 service will introduce its revised rotation with the vessel YM Trust, scheduled to depart Ningbo, China, on November 10, 2026. The vessel is expected to arrive at Egypt’s Damietta Port on December 7.

Under the revised schedule, the service will connect several major Asian ports with Egypt and Türkiye through the Suez Canal.

The planned MD1 port rotation includes:

Ningbo – Shanghai – Shekou – Singapore – Sokhna – Suez Canal – Damietta – Istanbul – Izmit – Mersin – Damietta – Suez Canal – Singapore – Kaohsiung.

The inclusion of Sokhna and Damietta places two Egyptian ports on the revised Asia-Mediterranean service. Following its Mediterranean calls, the service will return through Damietta and the Suez Canal before continuing toward Asia.

The revised routing is intended to shorten transit times between Asia and the Mediterranean compared with the alternative routing.

MS2 Service to Connect Asia and Mediterranean Ports via Suez Canal

ONE also confirmed that its MS2 service will resume Suez Canal transits with the vessel ONE Synergy. The vessel is scheduled to depart Qingdao, China, on November 16, 2026, with an expected arrival at Piraeus, Greece, on December 28.

The revised MS2 rotation will connect a network of major Asian container ports with destinations in the Mediterranean. Its Asian calls include Qingdao, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shekou and Singapore.

After transiting the Suez Canal, the service will continue to Piraeus, Valencia, Barcelona, Genoa, La Spezia and Fos. The return voyage will pass through the Suez Canal toward Singapore before continuing to ports in Southeast Asia.

The routing change will restore the Suez Canal corridor to the specified MS2 sailings, supporting ONE’s objective of reducing transit times between the two regions.

ONE Maintains Flexible Routing Amid Regional Security Concerns

Although ONE has announced the return of both services to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, the carrier emphasized that its routing plans remain subject to security and operational conditions.

The company will continue assessing developments in the Middle East and may revise vessel routes if circumstances change. These assessments will prioritize the safety of crews, vessels and customer shipments.

ONE also confirmed that it will update sailing schedules and booking confirmations to reflect the revised service rotations. However, the carrier cautioned that service details may change without prior notice in response to evolving security or operational developments.

The planned November sailings therefore mark the next scheduled step in restoring Suez Canal transits for the MD1 and MS2 services, while ONE retains the flexibility to adjust operations as conditions require.

Source: Al Mal

Shipping Arabia, September 20, 2026 – Container freight rates from Asia to the Mediterranean fell 12% to around $4,200 per FEU last week, as shipping lines continued restoring capacity through the Red Sea and Suez Canal despite renewed uncertainty around the Bab el-Mandeb.

Latest estimates from Sea-Intelligence indicate that more than a quarter of Asia-Europe capacity will operate through the Red Sea during September. Around 35% of headhaul capacity from Asia to the Mediterranean and 50% to 60% of return capacity has been restored through the Suez Canal.

The recovery has been slower on the Asia-North Europe trade, where only 6% of headhaul and 30% of backhaul capacity has returned to the route.

According to Freightos, the additional capacity and shorter transit times provided by returning to the Red Sea, combined with easing demand following the peak season, are contributing to downward pressure on freight rates.

Asia-Mediterranean rates dropped 12% to about $4,200 per FEU, while Asia-North Europe rates declined 3% to approximately $4,300. Daily rates on both trades have since fallen to around $3,800 per FEU.

The Mediterranean market has recorded the sharper correction. Rates from Asia are now around $3,000 per FEU below their July peak, compared with a decline of about $2,000 on the North Europe trade, reflecting the faster restoration of Red Sea capacity.

Rates nevertheless remain significantly above pre-peak-season levels, with congestion at Far East origin ports and North European hubs continuing to affect schedules and available capacity. Higher fuel costs and operational uncertainty could also influence carriers’ decisions over the pace of further Red Sea and Suez deployments.

Transpacific rates, meanwhile, moved slightly higher as strong demand and congestion continued to support spot markets. US import volumes are expected to begin easing, with October shipments forecast to fall 9% from September before declining further in November.

The contrasting trends underline how the gradual restoration of Red Sea and Suez Canal services is beginning to reshape capacity and freight-rate dynamics on Asia-Mediterranean trades, even as carriers continue to manage operational risks and congestion across major east-west networks.

Source: Almal News