Shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd do not anticipate an immediate return to the Red Sea following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Both companies will closely monitor the situation and resume operations once it is safe to do so. Hapag-Lloyd had previously stated that a ceasefire would not guarantee an immediate return to the Suez Canal due to potential attacks from Houthi militants in Yemen. Rearranging schedules could take up to six weeks. Disruptions in the Middle East have led to shipping companies diverting their vessels on longer routes, increasing freight rates and disrupting global ocean shipping.