29 may 2024 — 18:00
Since the beginning of 2024, the number of container ships in the Red Sea has decreased by 90 percent, as a result of ongoing rocket attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels, the Financial Times (FT) newspaper reports, citing data from the Clarksons shipping company.
According to analysts, serious problems with the passage of container ships arose at the end of 2023. Then many logistics and trading companies decided to avoid following this route. Currently, the key workaround for them is the route around the Cape of Good Hope. As a result, the average delivery time has increased by an average of 9-14 days in recent months.
Against this background, Rolf Habben Jansen, Executive Director of Hapag-Lloyd, predicted the continuation of this trend in the medium term. In his opinion, the owners will redirect their vessels along a longer route for a long period of time. This is necessary to ensure the safety of cargo and crew members. "We are sending all our ships around Africa, and it is very difficult to imagine when this will change," Jansen complained.