The attacks by the Yemeni Houthi militia on merchant ships have prompted shipping companies to avoid the route through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
As a result, CO2 emissions in container shipping have risen significantly: In 2024, over 10 million more tons of CO2 were emitted as a result of the crisis.
As the industry analyst Sea-Intelligence reports, the rerouting of ships via the Cape of Good Hope off South Africa has led to an “alarming increase” in emissions in container shipping, according to EU emissions data. Ships that disclose their data under EU regulations show an average increase in CO2 emissions of 45% in 2024. In shipping as a whole, emissions increased by around 10%, but the container segment was “disproportionately serious”, according to Sea-Intelligence.
Emissions in the previous years from 2018 to 2023 were not only significantly lower, but actually fell. Despite an increase in container volumes, ships continuously reduced their emissions by an average of 4.4% per year.
If there had never been a crisis in the Red Sea and the container lines had reduced their emissions again last year, this would have led to total emissions of 34.7 million tons, according to Sea-Intelligence. However, 52.7 million tons were actually reported from the EU.
“Assuming that the main cause of the increase in emissions in 2024 is the routes via Africa, the Houthi actions caused additional CO2 emissions related to container shipping of 18 million tons in 2024,” the analysis states. This is equivalent to the emissions of Cambodia, a country with a population of almost 17 million.
The Houthi, who are allied with Iran and who, according to US President Trump, recently “surrendered”, have once again begun attacking ships that are believed to be linked to Israel. The Houthis recently carried out another strike against merchant shipping: The bulker “Eternity C” was fired upon and sank on July 7. Several crew members died in the attack.
Development of CO2 emissions in container shipping (© Sea-Intelligence)
