Maersk Container Carrier Chaos in the Red Sea Causes Delays and Surcharge

By our economics editors

23 dec 2023 om 06:33

Maersk takes into account that the chaos in the Red Sea will continue for months. The container carrier said this in a press statement on Friday about the attacks on cargo ships by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

According to Maersk, fifteen routes between Asia and Europe and the American east coast and the Middle East have run into problems.

More than 150 ships with destinations such as Singapore and Rotterdam have postponed their arrival dates, some even until March.

The ships would normally sail through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and now have to detour under Africa.

Containers more expensive because of the detour

Maersk recently announced that it would impose a container surcharge due to the detour. A standard container transported from China to Northern Europe is now about 635 euros more expensive.

The United States this week created a Red Sea coalition of more than twenty countries to protect ships in the Red Sea.

A Pentagon spokesman said on Friday that this should be enough to avoid having to make the detour through Africa.

Beeld: Getty Images

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2023-12-23 05:33:48
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