Shipping company Maersk has said it is too early to resume sailings through the Red Sea due to a continued elevated risk level, despite an initiative by the European Union to increase safety in the region.
Maersk, one of the world's biggest container shipping companies, suspended Red Sea traffic on January 5 and has since redirected ships via the Cape of Good Hope.
The EU's naval mission in the southern Red Sea was launched in February to help protect the key maritime trade route from drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia, who say they are retaliating against Israel's war on Gaza.
Red Sea
Maersk said in a statement on its website that it was aware that other shipping companies had continued sailing through the Red Sea or announced plans to resume sailing.
'We continue with our own assessment that the current situation does not allow us to make a similar decision,' it said.
'We still believe that sailing via the Cape of Good Hope and around Africa is the most reasonable solution at the moment and the one that currently allows the best supply chain stability,' it added.
Mexico Investment
Elsewhere, Maersk has introduced a new 30,000 square metre warehouse facility in the Tijuana region of Mexico. Situated in Prisma XII, Pacifico Industrial Park in Tijuana, Baja California, the site caters to clients in various sectors such as technology, automotive, retail, and lifestyle, offering cross-border capabilities.
It strategically positions near key commercial ports, including Los Angeles/Long Beach, California, and Ensenada, Mexico. Additionally, it sits 15 kilometres from the Otay Commercial Port and 20 kilometres from the San Ysidro Commercial Port.
Additional reporting by ESM
