The effects of the Suez crisis, which was caused by Houthi attacks on merchant ships, are far from over; in fact, they are increasing in the Mediterranean six months after hostilities began. This is certified by the Italian Freight Forwarders' Federation, which has published a report on the effects of the Suez affair on the maritime transport sector, as well as a half-yearly balance sheet. The analysis highlights a reduction in Canal passages (-50% in the first weeks of 2024), which is caused by shipping companies' decision to pass through the Cape of Good Hope. The change in routes, and thus the rotation of ship arrivals, has had an impact on freight costs, which are being influenced by a new phase of growth. The report states that "sea freight prices on routes to the Mediterranean have increased by 44%, compared to the average values of 2023. Similarly, the necessary route rescheduling had a negative impact on service quality, in terms of average days of delay and, most importantly, the percentage of ships arriving on time (54.6% punctuality rate in April 2024 compared to 62.2% in April 2023)".
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