The chief executive of Maersk, the Danish shipping and logistics giant, has expressed confidence that conditions are now in place for a complete return to Suez Canal shipping routes during 2026. The assessment comes as one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints continues to recover from months of disruption caused by Houthi attacks on vessels transiting the waterway.

Maersk’s CEO indicated that the full restoration of normal operations through the canal depends primarily on the situation in Yemen remaining stable. The Red Sea shipping crisis, triggered by Iran-backed Houthi militants targeting commercial vessels, forced many shipping companies to reroute their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope—a significantly longer and more expensive alternative that added weeks to journey times and increased fuel costs.

The Suez Canal, which connects Europe to Asia and handles roughly 12 per cent of global trade, is one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes. The disruptions forced major carriers to make substantial operational changes, with some services still avoiding the canal even as security conditions have gradually improved. Maersk’s forecast suggests confidence that international efforts to secure the Red Sea will prove effective over the coming year.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.