Capacity deployed on the Asia/US East Coast using the Suez Canal trade route has increased by 66% in the last two years, according to available statistics.

In June 2013, the total weekly capacity on the Suez transit trade was 43,460 TEU, but by June 2015, and with the completion of the Panama Canal lock widening programme still some months away, that figure will have increased to 72,230 – a staggering climb of 66%.

The figures are prompting many authorities involved in the widening to seriously question the way ahead, and ask whether some or most of that capacity increase will indeed head for the Panama Canal transit when the widening programme has been completed.

The Suez transit rundown follows:

O3 Agreement. June 2013: 8,662 TEU (Maersk/CMA-CGM); June 2014: 8,553 TEU (Maersk/CMA-CGM); June 2015: 8,500 TEU (O3 Agreement)

G6 Alliance CEC service. June 2013: 8,367 TEU; June 2014: 8,589 TEU; June 2015: 8,754 TEU

G6 Alliance AZS service. June 2013: 5,987 TEU; June 2014: 5,987 TEU; June 2015: 6,219 TEU

G6/Evergreen SVS/AUE3 service. June 2013: 6,286 TEU; June 2014: 6,642 TEU; July 2015: 6,717 TEU

CKYH/Evergreen AWE4/NUE4 service. June 2013: 5,795 TEU; June 2014: 5,855 TEU; June 2015: 8,886 TEU

CKYH/Evergreen AWE8/AUE service. June 2013: nil; June 2014: 8,235 TEU; June 2015: 8,150 TEU

Mediterranean Shipping Co Golden Gate service. June 2013: 8,376 TEU; June 2014: 8,936 TEU; June 2015: nil

2M Agreement TP11/America service. June 2015: 8,567 TEU

2M Agreement TP12/Empire service. June 2015: 8,600 TEU

Zim Seven Star (Z7S) service. June 2015: 7,840 TEU

Importantly, capacity on the Z7S service is not 100% confirmed at the moment, and could be slightly less than the above figure.

By Paul Richardson

Sea Freight Correspondent | London