Conf lict in the Red Sea has significantly elevated carbon emissions in ocean freight container shipping, according to data released by Xeneta,The Xeneta and Marine Benchmark Carbon Emissions Index (CEI), which measures carbon emissions per ton of cargo transported across the world’s top 13 trades, hit 107.4 points in the first quarter of the year – the highest it has been since the index began in 2018.For containers being shipped via ocean from the Far East to the Mediterranean, the CEI revealed carbon emissions increased by 63% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to quarter four in 2023. From the Far East into North Europe, carbon emissions increased by 23%.According to Emily Stausbøll, a Xeneta market analyst, this is a direct result of the conf lict in the Red Sea region, which escalated in December and has seen most ocean freight container services avoiding the Suez Canal due to the threat of attack by Houthi militia and opting to sail longer routes around the Cape instead. “We are all aware of the human and economic cost of war, but this data demonstrates there is also a price to pay for the climate. Containers being shipped to the Mediterranean from the Far East travelled 9 400 nautical miles on average in 2023 before the escalation in the Red Sea. They are now sailing an additional 5 800 nautical miles due to diversions around the Cape in Africa, with the inevitable consequence of more fuel being burned.“Ships are also being sailed at higher speeds in an attempt to make up time due to the longer distances, which again results in more carbon being burned.”Data released by Xeneta also reveals disruption in the Red Sea has pushed some shippers into using airfreight to protect supply chains.With the largest ocean freight carriers still choosing to avoid the Red Sea, cargo from the Far East is now arriving via ocean at ports such as Jebel Ali in the Arabian Gulf before being f lown out of Dubai Airport for onward transportation to Europe and North America.As a result, air cargo demand from Dubai Airport to European destinations increased by 190% in March compared to the same month in 2023. “Not only is airfreight more expensive than ocean freight but it is also far less sustainable, so this shift to hybrid sea-air services via the Middle East will result in increased carbon emissions per ton of cargo transported.“Shippers are also once again using rail services through Russia to transport goods from the Far East to Europe, which, like airfreight, is more carbon intensive than ocean freight shipping.”
