Ship Backlogs From Suez Chaos Could Take Months to Clear, Container Lines Say

Ships and boats are seen at the entrance of Suez Canal, which was blocked by stranded container ship Ever Given that ran aground, Egypt, on March 28, 2021. Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

COPENHAGEN/LONDON—The stranding of a container ship in the Suez Canal has created disruptions in the global shipping industry that could take weeks and possibly months to clear, top container shipping lines said.

Around 30 percent of the world’s shipping container volume—including goods like sofas, consumer electronics, apparel, and shoes—moves through the 193 km (120 mile) Suez Canal daily. Empty containers, which Asian factories need to ship goods, are also caught up in the backlog.