The decision, part of the Gemini alliance, follows improved security conditions in the Red Sea. The companies stated that the AE15 service, connecting China and Southeast Asia with the Mediterranean, will now transit through the Egyptian waterway instead of bypassing the Cape of Good Hope.
This operational restructuring reduces vessel rotation times. By shortening distances, shipping lines can increase available cargo capacity, a factor that could lead to more competitive freight rates for customers.
Although the shipping lines clarified that they are not currently planning a widespread change to their east-west network, the Andalusian port sector views this shift with optimism. Greater fluidity in maritime routes allows for the handling of higher cargo volumes, directly benefiting strategic hubs like Algeciras.
