Containership traffic in Suez Canal reaches 2024 peak

Containership transits through the Suez Canal have hit a record high for 2024, despite challenges posed by the ongoing Red Sea crisis, according to Alphaliner. This year, traffic has remained subdued overall, but recent data highlights a notable increase in vessel crossings.

Sub-Panamax container ships, with capacities under 4,000 TEUs, make up the majority of the transits, accounting for 78% of total traffic. These smaller vessels have consistently set records, with over 100 crossings per month since August.

Containerships in the 4,000 to 7,500 TEU range have also seen a slight recovery, bouncing back from record lows registered earlier in the year.

In contrast, larger ships with capacities between 7,500 and 18,000 TEUs remain infrequent, averaging less than 20 transits per month. This marks a significant 92.5% year-over-year decline in traffic for this size category over the past two months.

Ultra-large container ships (ULCS) exceeding 18,000 TEUs have continued to avoid the Suez Canal entirely—a trend that has persisted for nearly nine months.