PNN – Referring to the continuation of the crisis in the Red Sea, the “Guardian” newspaper wrote: These developments caused many shipping companies to try to take the safer, albeit much longer and more expensive, route around South Africa. Because this has increased the travel time up to 10 days and the cost of fuel up to 40% and has finally caused an increase in the price of goods.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network from this English media, the Suez Canal, which previously carried 12 percent of world trade, saw a 66 percent drop in maritime traffic at the start of April compared to the previous year.
Noting that the few ships that use the Red Sea route are still under threat, the Guardian added: This issue was once again taken into consideration by the Maersk shipping line’s emphasis on the expansion of the danger zone in the Red Sea. Maersk has announced that it will continue to send its ships around Africa, but this will lead to a 20% reduction in cargo capacity in the second quarter of the year and increased costs. Last week, the surcharge for containers traveling between Asia and Northern Europe was increased from $250 to $750.
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The report added: The crisis in the Red Sea has affected large companies, including Maersk, and small businesses in Britain and other countries dependent on Asian and Middle Eastern goods. A survey of British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) exporter members in February found that more than half (53%) of manufacturers and retailers had been affected by the Red Sea crisis. Some reported a 300% price increase for container rental and an additional four weeks to the delivery time.
The Guardian wrote: About 70% of Europe’s car parts are transported from Asia through the Red Sea. The crisis in the Red Sea caused car manufacturers such as Volvo and Tesla to stop some of their production lines due to the lack of parts. The multinational automobile company “Stellantis” has also turned to air transportation to transfer part of its goods. Some companies have also embraced rail transport, and as a result the number of trains leaving China for Europe has increased dramatically in recent months.
In support of the resistance of the Palestinian nation in the Gaza Strip, the Yemeni army has targeted several Israeli ships or ships bound for the occupied territories in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait and said that the military forces of this country have committed to continue attacking the ships of this regime or the ships bound for the occupied territories in the Red Sea until the Israeli regime does not stop its attacks on Gaza.
At the same time, the forces of the Yemeni army have emphasized that navigation in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea is free for other ships and they enjoy full security.