Ships are forced to detour thousands of kilometres because of attacks in the Red Sea.

Omissions

• The claim is a qualitative order-of-magnitude statement ('thousands of kilometres'); the precise figure is usually given in nautical miles: ING cites 'more than 3,000 nautical miles' (~5,500 km) saved on Asia–Northwest Europe, Docshipper cites '3,500 nautical miles' plus 10–14 days.
• By 2026 the situation is no longer uniform: some carriers have resumed limited Red Sea transits (CMA CGM with naval escort), while Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and MSC still route most Asia–Europe traffic around the Cape; the claim's present-tense generalisation is therefore slightly simplified.
• No primary official statistical source (e.g. UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2025 tables, Eurostat, national statistics offices) publishing the exact distance was located within the search budget; the figures come from financial-industry research and freight-sector publications.
• The MEP cites no source, and the detour figure varies by origin/destination pair, so 'thousands of kilometres' is a reasonable average, not a universal value.

Sources

• SecondaryING Think — 'A Red Sea return would be a game changer for container shipping in 2026'"Resuming Red Sea transit saves more than 3,000 nautical miles and roughly 10 days of sailing on the Asia–Northwest Europe route. Over time, this will significantly free up vessel capacity, as the detour currently absorbs around 6% of global fleet capacity on top of frequent delays."
• SecondaryDocshipper — 'Red Sea Crisis Update: Route Alternatives & Cost Impacts'"The primary alternative is the Cape of Good Hope route around Africa, adding 3,500 nautical miles and 10-14 days but offering low security risk and no Suez fees"
• SecondaryGoFreight — 'Maritime Disruption 2026: Red Sea, Suez and Hormuz Impact on Ocean Freight'"Carriers are still routing the bulk of Asia to Europe traffic around the Cape of Good Hope because Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which began in late 2023, have not fully ceased... CMA CGM resumed limited Red Sea transit with naval escort in 2026, but Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC continue to favor the Cape route on their main loops... Across most lanes, Cape routing adds roughly 30 to 40 percent to total transit."
• SecondaryZencargo — 'Red Sea Shipping 2026: How will the Suez Canal reopening affect your supply chain'"After two years of diverting around Africa, carriers are under pressure to return to the Suez Canal in 2026... Most capacity remains routed via the Cape of Good Hope but CMA CGM has announced a full turn to come and Maersk has tested some passages. Other carriers are yet to commit." (Market Update dated 08 September 2026)