The Great Reroute: Cape Becomes Default Route—Again
Second Cape reroute in two years forces carriers away from Suez, piling 19 additional transit days and $2B+ weekly cost increments.
In 2024, when Houthi attacks on container ships in the Red Sea created genuine fear of total closure, carriers rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. By late 2025, as attacks moderated, carriers began returning to Suez. By January 2026, more than 70% of diverted container traffic was back on Suez routes.
Then March arri…
