The Danish shipping group, Maersk, says the disruption to container traffic in the Red Sea is worsening because drone and missile attacks on ships by Yemen’s Houthi rebels are reaching further offshore.
Maersk said it estimated the industry had lost between 15% and 20% of its capacity on the Far East to Mediterranean and northern Europe routes.
It said it had added container capacity and was sailing faster on the route around southern Africa to offset some of the disruption, but noted that it is using 40% more fuel as a result.
On Thursday, Maersk said it would be unable to use the route through the Red Sea until the end of the year, because of continuing Houthi attacks.