Red Sea Disruptions: How VLI Is Managing Your Shipments

The ongoing security situation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continues to impact global shipping schedules, with major carriers rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. At VLI, we are actively managing the impact on our clients' shipments and wanted to share a transparent update on the situation and our response.

Current Situation

Since late 2023, Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have forced the majority of container lines to avoid the Suez Canal route. This rerouting adds approximately 10–14 days to Asia-Europe transit times and has driven up freight rates on affected trade lanes.

As of May 2026, the situation remains unresolved, and most major carriers continue to route via the Cape of Good Hope for Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean services.

How VLI Is Responding

Our operations team has implemented several measures to minimise disruption:

• **Proactive booking management**: We are securing space on vessels well in advance to avoid rollovers caused by capacity constraints.
• **Alternative routing options**: For time-sensitive cargo, we are offering air freight alternatives and multimodal solutions via rail through Central Asia.
• **Transparent communication**: We are providing clients with regular updates on vessel schedules, ETAs, and any changes to routing.
• **Rate monitoring**: We are continuously monitoring the market to ensure our clients receive competitive rates despite the elevated market conditions.

What to Expect

Transit times on Asia-Europe lanes remain extended. We recommend clients plan shipments with additional buffer time and consider booking 4–6 weeks in advance for peak season cargo.

For specific enquiries about your shipments, please contact your dedicated VLI account manager or reach us at info@vlilogistics.com.