fter years of diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, container shipping’s return to the Suez Canal is gathering pace. However, the shift remains gradual, with carriers continuing to assess security risks and routing decisions on a service-by-service basis.
One of the latest developments is the return of CMA CGM and MSC’s joint Europe-Australia service to the Suez route in both directions.
CMA CGM and MSC resume Suez routing
According to Container News, citing DynaLiners, the service is marketed as NEWMO by CMA CGM and Australia Express by MSC.
It connects North European ports with Australian ports including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle, before continuing through Singapore, Ennore and Colombo.
The return to Suez removes the longer diversion around southern Africa. According to the report, the carriers can reduce the number of vessels deployed on the service from 18 to 16, with an average capacity of around 9,000 TEU per vessel. The port rotation remains unchanged.
For Australian businesses shipping between Europe and Australia, the shorter route could reduce voyage times. Actual transit times will still depend on the sailing schedule and operating conditions.
A wider return to the Suez Canal
The change is part of a broader recovery in Suez Canal container traffic.
Alphaliner data reported by Ship & Bunker showed that 63% of capacity deployed on the Far East–Europe trade was using the Suez Canal between 15 September and 15 October 2026. This represented 5.5 million TEU out of 8.7 million TEU deployed on the trade.
While this signals a substantial shift back towards the shorter route, it does not mean all carriers have returned. Security concerns in the Red Sea continue to influence routing decisions, and some services remain diverted around the Cape of Good Hope.
What happens next?
The return of more services to Suez could reduce voyage times and the number of vessels needed to maintain some schedules. However, the pace of change will depend on security conditions and individual carrier decisions.
For Australian importers and exporters, the Europe-Australia service is worth watching when planning shipments. A shorter route may help, but it is still important to check the routing and estimated transit time for each booking.
After years of disruption, the return to Suez is a significant development for container shipping, but for now, it remains a gradual shift rather than a complete return to pre-disruption operations.
Sources: Container News, citing DynaLiners; Alphaliner, as reported by Ship & Bunker.