A spokesperson for the marine shipping company "Hapag-Lloyd" stated on Tuesday that the German company does not expect to resume shipping operations through the Suez Canal anytime soon, even if a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is reached now. This statement from the fifth-largest shipping company in the world follows Palestinian factions welcoming the UN Security Council's decision to support a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hapag-Lloyd's shares, along with those of its Danish counterpart, Maersk, dropped by five to six percent this afternoon due to this news.
The spokesperson added, "Even if there is a ceasefire now, that does not mean that the attacks from the Houthis will stop immediately." Hapag-Lloyd noted that even after traffic through the Suez Canal resumes, it will take at least four to six weeks to rearrange schedules and return operations to normal.
Global commercial shipping is facing disruptions, including in the Red Sea region, where shipping operators are avoiding the Suez Canal due to attacks by Houthi militants based in Yemen on ships. Maersk declined to comment on this news. Its CEO stated in February that the company would need a permanent solution before considering a return to the Red Sea.
