In late 2023, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints effectively broke.

After Hamas' October 7th attack on Israel, Houthi militants began targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Initially, their target was Israel-linked vessels, then they increasingly started targeting anything that passed through.

What followed was a near-collapse of confidence in the Suez Canal, a route that normally handles roughly 10–12% of global seaborne trade. Ocean carriers rerouted thousands of ships around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks, cost, fuel burn, and complexity to global supply chains.

Fast forward to late 2025 and early 2026, and something quietly significant happened: Maersk, the world's second-largest container carrier, sent ships back through the Red Sea. It wasn't a full return or a declaration of victory, but it was a meaningful test.

In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers:

• Why Maersk's Red Sea test voyages matter more than they may appear
• The economic and capacity pressures pushing carriers back toward Suez
• Why a "safe reopening" may still create winners and losers
• What procurement and supply chain leaders should be watching for next

Links:

• High Stakes in the Red Sea
• Kelly Barner on LinkedIn
• Art of Supply LinkedIn newsletter
• Art of Supply on AOP
• Subscribe to This Week in Procurement