The Danish shipping and logistics group A.P. Moeller-Maersk says it is struggling with increasing disruptions to its container ships due to the uncertain situation in the Red Sea.

The effects are now being felt not only in the region, but on all routes, the company announced on Wednesday. Overloads are occurring here. Exports from Asia are more affected than imports. This could also be due to the great importance of Asian exports on the global market. Demand for container shipping remains robust, Maersk explained. In particularly urgent cases, air freight is being used.

Due to the attacks by the Houthi rebels, Maersk, like Hapag-Lloyd, is avoiding the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Instead, the ships are sailing around Africa, which is significantly more expensive. The changes are also contributing to congestion at container ports, for example in Singapore.

(Report by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, edited by Tom Käckenhoff, edited by Ralf Banser. If you have any queries, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and the economy) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).)