Global shipping could reroute around South Africa for the rest of 2026, expert warns

Shipping companies might choose to avoid the Middle East and take longer paths around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, according to an expert. Peter Sand, the chief analyst at Xeneta, a company that specializes in ocean and air freight data, stated that passing through the Strait of Hormuz is “completely off the charts for the rest of 2026” because of the “uncertainty and security situation in the region.” In an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson, he mentioned that ships are likely to avoid other key routes, including the Bab al-Mandab strait, which is situated between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. This area has seen disruptions due to Houthi rebels supported by Iran. Sand also pointed out that the Suez Canal in Egypt, which connects to the Red Sea, is another route under scrutiny. He noted, “We have seen for a number of years the unrest in the wider region… [with] Houthi rebels closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait… to cause more significant disruption than what we see right now.” He concluded that for possibly another year, global shipping routes may be fully redirected around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the shortcut through the Suez Canal.