While most major container shipping lines continue routing vessels around the Cape of Good Hope due to security concerns in the Red Sea region, CMA CGM has recently introduced two notable service adjustments.
According to shipping media outlet The Loadstar, the carrier is increasing vessel deployments through the Suez Canal after observing that some cargo owners are willing to pay premium freight rates for faster transit times.
These changes signal a cautious but important shift in Asia–Europe trade lane routing strategy.
OCR Service Now Uses the Suez Canal in Both Directions, Saving Two Weeks
The OCR service, CMA CGM’s newly launched Asia–Northern Europe route, connects major ports in Japan and South China with key European gateways.
Following the latest adjustment:
- vessels now transit the Suez Canal in both directions
- each round-trip voyage saves approximately two weeks compared with routing via the Cape of Good Hope
The current port rotation includes:
Kobe → Nagoya → Yokohama → Xiamen → Yantian → Jeddah → Rotterdam → Hamburg → Southampton → Jeddah → Nansha → Kobe
Shipping schedules indicate that this routing change has already been implemented.
For time-sensitive cargo between Asia and Northern Europe, this represents a meaningful improvement in delivery speed.
EPIC Service Restores Westbound Suez Transit First
CMA CGM has also partially adjusted its EPIC service routing:
- westbound voyages (Asia to Europe) have resumed Suez Canal transit
- eastbound voyages (Europe to Asia) continue routing via the Cape of Good Hope for now
The first vessel to resume westbound Suez passage was the CMA CGM GEMINI (capacity: 11,388 TEU), which transited the canal on April 29.
Future westbound sailings on this service are expected to follow the same routing pattern, while the core Europe–India service structure remains unchanged.
Why Some Shippers Are Choosing Faster but Higher-Cost Routing
Despite ongoing regional instability, some cargo owners are prioritizing transit reliability and shorter delivery windows.
Key motivations include:
- reducing inventory holding time
- meeting project delivery deadlines
- supporting seasonal or contract-based shipments
- avoiding long detours around southern Africa
As a result, certain shippers are willing to accept higher freight rates in exchange for improved transit efficiency.
A Gradual Operational Test, Not a Full Return to the Suez Route
Security risks in the Red Sea and surrounding areas remain a major concern for the global shipping industry.
CMA CGM’s routing adjustments are widely viewed as:
- a phased operational test
- not a full-scale return to Suez Canal routing
At present, most major carriers continue using the Cape of Good Hope for their primary Asia–Europe trunk services.
However, these selective adjustments suggest that routing strategies may evolve further depending on regional security conditions and market demand.
