Recent Suez Canal transits by the CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and her sister vessel CMA CGM ZHENG HE sparked speculation that major East–West carrier alliances might soon revert from the Cape of Good Hope back to the shorter Red Sea route. Despite some easing of tensions in the region, current network schedules do not support this assumption.
Alphaliner data shows that CMA CGM’s ‘FAL1’ service, on which both ships performed their recent eastbound Suez passages, is scheduled to return to Cape routings for the upcoming North Europe–Asia sailings. These two transits appear to have been operational exceptions rather than signs of a strategic shift.
CMA CGM has, however, maintained a limited but continuous use of the Suez Canal throughout 2025. The OCEAN Alliance’s ‘MED5’ loop (also referred to as ‘BEX2’), operated entirely by CMA CGM, is the only major alliance service that continued Red Sea and Suez routings without interruption this year. The loop regularly deploys vessels in the 10,000–15,500 teu range.
Alliance partners COSCO SHIPPING Lines (‘AEM6’), Evergreen (‘BEX2’) and OOCL (‘AAS’) take slots on this service but do not contribute tonnage.
Beyond its alliance commitments, CMA CGM also employs Suez routings on its Middle East – Indian Subcontinent – Mediterranean ‘MEDEX’ service. COSCO (‘MINA’) and OOCL (‘WM3’) hold slot allocations on this loop, which is operated outside the OCEAN Alliance network.
Latest AIS and fleet operator data confirm that CMA CGM remains the dominant Suez Canal user among the major carriers in 2025, maintaining a strategically selective — but consistent — presence on the route.
Based on: Alphaliner data & reporting
