2024-01-03 16:25:00
The French maritime carrier CMA CGM announced the almost doubling of its freight rates from January 15 for trade between Asia and the Mediterranean, due to Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. Transporting a 40-foot container between Asia and the Western Mediterranean will increase from $3,000 to $6,000. For a 20-foot container, it will cost $3,500 compared to $2,000 so far.
The price for a 40-foot container will increase from $3,200 to $6,200 for trade between Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean. These tariff revisions are a direct result of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa.
Bypass Africa rather than taking the Suez Canal
The Italian-Swiss world leader, MSC, also increased its prices on January 1 to compensate for the lengthening of the transit of its ships which now bypass Africa instead of passing through the Suez Canal, announcing on December 28 a surcharge from 1,000 to 2,000 dollars per container for trade between the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa or the Indian subcontinent.
On Sunday, a container ship of the Danish carrier Maersk was hit by a missile. The US Navy claimed to have sunk three Houthi ships which attacked the building in retaliation.
23 attacks carried out in the Red Sea by the Houthis
Since October 19, 23 attacks have been carried out by Houthis once morest international ships in the area, which sees 12% of global maritime trade. The rebels are increasing attacks off the Yemeni coast, claiming to act in solidarity with Gaza, bombed and besieged by Israel following the bloody attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7.
Most maritime carriers have therefore given up using the Suez Canal and are diverting their ships to the Cape of Good Hope, off the coast of South Africa, which extends the journey by regarding a week between Asia and Africa. ‘Europe.
Maersk and MSC have temporarily halted all passage through the Red Sea. The German Hapag-Lloyd announced that it would maintain the measure at least until January 9. CMA CGM, for its part, has been sailing some of its vessels in the region once more since December 26, but is still diverting part of its fleet towards the Cape of Good Hope.
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