While major shipping lines cut short their return and war threatens the region, the Suez Canal Authority said vessel traffic continues apace through the Middle East trade route. Despite the ongoing Iran war and regional tensions, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) reports that vessel traffic through the canal remains unaffected and is operating normally. Osama Rabie, chairman of the SCA, confirmed that navigational services are functioning around the clock, with 56 vessels transiting the canal on Monday, totaling 2.6 million gross tons. The canal has seen 100 vessels pass through in the past three days, with a net tonnage of 3.8 million tons. However, major shipping lines like CMA CGM and Maersk have temporarily suspended their transits due to security concerns, a decision contingent on the evolving situation in the region. The Suez Canal had previously experienced record traffic in 2023, but numbers have since declined due to the ongoing Red Sea crisis. Analysts suggest that the regional hostilities could deter major carriers from using the canal until 2026. The recent tentative return of Maersk and CMA CGM to the route indicates mixed signals for global shipping rates, as the diversion of 2.5 million containers' capacity had previously absorbed some market pressure. The return of this tonnage could further impact ocean rates. Rabie remains optimistic about a resolution to the security issues, emphasizing the importance of the canal for global navigation.