01

The world travels by water

A product’s journey often links a factory, a port, an ocean crossing and a distribution centre. Some journeys converge on narrow passages called maritime chokepoints. The Suez and Panama canals are two important examples: a disruption in one place can affect a much wider transport network.

02

Two shortcuts, different challenges

Panama connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Suez connects the Mediterranean and Red seas, forming part of a major route between Europe and Asia. These shortcuts reduce sailing distances. UNCTAD’s 2025 review documents how disruption in the Red Sea continued to divert shipping away from Suez and around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

03

Why a detour matters

A longer route can keep goods moving, but it requires more time, fuel and vessel capacity for the same journey. UNCTAD reports that Red Sea rerouting extended voyages, raised operating costs and reduced effective shipping capacity during the period covered by the 2025 review. Those pressures can reach freight rates, delivery schedules and supply-chain reliability.

04

Read the system, not just the map

A resilient supply chain considers alternative routes, inventory and the time needed to adjust. The diagram shows the logic of a chokepoint, rather than a navigational map. This primer draws on UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2025, published on 24 September 2025; it describes the report’s findings, not live shipping conditions.

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Sources & further reading

Sources checked 13 November 2026. These organisations provide reference material and do not endorse this website.