Data from service performance and benchmarking analyst Esgian shows that the number of unique multipurpose vessels transiting the Suez Canal is down 44 percent compared to January 2023.
The number of unique multipurpose vessels in the Suez Canal this time last year was 77. As of January 25, 2024, that number stood at 43 ships, according to Esgian.
With many shipping lines opting to reroute away from the region, it is little surprise that activity around the Cape of Good Hope has seen an increase. Esgian’s figures show an uptick of 64 percent in the number of vessels there compared to the same period last year (up from 67 ships to 109).
“In the top five, we see that BBC Chartering has clearly decreased its exposure through the Suez the most, but COSCO and United Heavy Lift (UHL) have also a clear downward trend,” Esgian explained.
Data from the company’s ro-ro platform shows that the number of unique ro-ro vessels in the Suez Canal is down 70 percent compared the 2021-2023 monthly average (down from 80 vessels to 24). Ro-ro vessels around the Cape of Good Hope is up 133 percent compared to the same period (up from 38 to 89).
“The largest ro-ro operator has historically been Wallenius Wilhelmsen with around 20 monthly transits,” Esgian said. “This is now down to zero.”
