Geopolitical pressures to restore container traffic through the Suez Canal are clashing with carriers' reluctance to resume transits after nearly two years of diversions around Africa due to Houthi attacks, reports London's S&P Global.

The Suez Canal Authority said in late November that Maersk planned to restart transits in December, but the carrier quickly denied setting a timeline. Egypt, facing losses of US$800 million a month, is pressing for full use of the canal following the October Israel-Hamas peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Analysts remain sceptical that hostilities have ended, noting the Houthis' pause in attacks may be temporary. Jack Kennedy of S&P Global Market Intelligence said the group has incentives to continue activity in the Red Sea to secure external support and maintain domestic backing.

Carriers acknowledge the Suez as the natural Asia-Europe route but are wary of reworking networks only to divert again if attacks resume. CMA CGM's Tariq Zaghloul said "there is no alternative to the Suez, yet operators have judged conditions insufficient to warrant normal routings.

Former US transport official Andrew Petrisin suggested Washington could frame diversions as inflationary to pressure carriers, though economists see no evidence of such an impact. He added carriers would resist any fines, prioritising crew and fleet safety.

Industry sources said resumption would require US security guarantees, possibly with increased naval presence. But analysts argue the Houthis remain too entrenched in Yemen to be eliminated as a threat, leaving the outlook for Suez transits uncertain.