The situation on maritime routes remains complicated. Maersk announced in March that it was suspending operations through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, rerouting everything via the Cape of Good Hope. The justification was crew and cargo safety amid increasing regional risks.

The impact of this is quite real. When you detour around the Cape, it adds significant days to Asia-Europe and Middle East-Europe routes. This causes port delays, container congestion, and extra freight costs. Carriers are passing these expenses on to shippers, not to mention the insurance surcharges that skyrocket when the risk profile is high.

What caught my attention is how this affects energy markets. Rystad Energy analysts warned that a prolonged disruption in the Gulf of Suez and Hormuz truly tightens oil markets. The typical crude volumes passing through there are critical for global balance. If it persists, we’ll see real pressure on prices.

Liquefied natural gas also suffers. According to Rabobank, export restrictions on LNG from producers like Qatar could raise benchmark prices if ship movements become limited. It’s a cascading effect that few were fully pricing in.

Intertanko reported that US naval alerts discouraged navigation in parts of the Persian Gulf, including the Gulf of Suez. Risk specialists characterized the situation as volatile but not necessarily a complete physical blockade. Some ships are already rerouting to avoid hot spots.

What to monitor now: signs of de-escalation, changes in war risk insurance premiums, and any statements from carriers about returning to normal routes. When security improves sustainably, we’ll likely see a gradual return to standard schedules. But for now, rerouting via the Cape remains the safest option carriers are choosing.