Shipping Arabia, October 28, 2026 – Dutch shipping company WEC Lines has launched a new Asia–Europe shipping service connecting Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka with major ports in Northwest Europe via the Suez Canal. The service creates additional cargo transportation opportunities between South Asia and European markets as some container shipping lines gradually return to the canal following prolonged diversions around the Cape of Good Hope.
According to a company announcement reported by Al Mal News, the new service provides connections between Karachi, Pakistan, and several major European ports. It also incorporates ports in India and Sri Lanka, expanding the shipping options available to customers trading between the two regions.
The development comes amid signs of increasing Asia–Europe container vessel movements through the Suez Canal, despite continuing security concerns in the Middle East and Red Sea.
WEC Lines Expands Asia–Europe Shipping Connections
The new WEC Lines Asia–Europe service connects three major South Asian ports with seven ports across Northwest Europe.
The South Asian ports included in the service are Mundra in India, Karachi in Pakistan and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
In Europe, the service covers Felixstowe and London Gateway in the United Kingdom, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium, and Le Havre in France.
According to WEC Lines, the service aims to create new shipping opportunities between Pakistan and major Northwest European ports.
By incorporating several South Asian and European gateways, the service provides additional maritime connections across a trade corridor traditionally served by container shipping networks operating through the Suez Canal.
The announcement comes as the Suez Canal Authority reports an increase in vessels operated by shipping lines serving Asia–Europe routes. This development has continued despite the regional security challenges affecting maritime transportation.
Suez Canal Sees Gradual Return of Container Shipping Services
Maritime research and consultancy firm Drewry recently reported that the Suez Canal has begun gradually regaining its position in global container shipping networks.
According to Drewry, some container services are increasingly returning to the canal rather than continuing their extended voyages around the Cape of Good Hope.
However, the consultancy cautioned that the return does not indicate that security risks in the Red Sea have disappeared. It also noted that the economic advantages of using the canal are more complex than the potential fuel and voyage distance savings might initially suggest.
Drewry identified shorter transit times, improved vessel utilization and the need to maintain competitive shipping services as important factors influencing carriers’ routing decisions.
These operational considerations are particularly relevant to container shipping networks, where vessel deployment and voyage duration influence the efficiency of shipping services.
Nevertheless, Drewry emphasized that the financial attractiveness of returning to the Suez Canal remains highly sensitive to war-risk insurance premiums and canal transit fees.
Consequently, the decision to resume canal transits involves balancing operational advantages against the additional costs and security risks associated with navigating the Red Sea.
Drewry Estimates $1 Million in Round-Voyage Savings
Drewry’s analysis provides an indication of the potential economic benefits of using the Suez Canal rather than the Cape of Good Hope.
The consultancy estimates that a container vessel with a nominal capacity of 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) could save approximately $1 million per round voyage by using the Suez Canal instead of sailing around southern Africa.
This is equivalent to approximately $43 per TEU of the vessel’s nominal capacity.
However, Drewry clarified that the figure represents a distribution of the estimated savings across the ship’s total capacity slots. It should not be interpreted as a guaranteed saving for every container actually transported.
The consultancy’s September 2026 comparison of Asia–North Europe shipping services also highlighted the significant difference in voyage distances between the two routes.
A round voyage via the Cape of Good Hope covers approximately 29,711 nautical miles, compared with 21,878 nautical miles through the Suez Canal.
This represents a reduction of 7,833 nautical miles per round voyage when using the canal.
The shorter distance can provide operational advantages, particularly through reduced voyage duration and improved vessel utilization. However, Drewry stressed that the overall financial benefits remain dependent on prevailing insurance costs and Suez Canal transit charges.
Red Sea Security Remains a Key Consideration
Although some container shipping services are returning to the Suez Canal, Drewry emphasized that the recovery remains gradual and does not eliminate the security risks affecting maritime navigation in the Red Sea.
Shipping lines must continue evaluating the relationship between shorter voyages, operational efficiency, insurance expenses and transit costs when determining their preferred routes.
The launch of the WEC Lines service adds another Asia–Europe shipping connection operating through the Suez Canal during this period of changing maritime routing decisions.
Meanwhile, the increase in Asia–Europe vessel movements reported by the Suez Canal Authority provides further evidence of a gradual recovery in canal activity, even as regional security concerns continue to influence shipping operations.
Source: Al Mal News