Canals, Capes, and the Routes That Choose Ports

The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, lets Asia Europe traffic skip the Cape of Good Hope and saves thousands of kilometers. When the Ever Given grounded in 2021 it blocked the channel for six days and stranded billions in cargo.

The Panama Canal, opened in 1914, saved ships the deadly Cape Horn passage and set the Panamax size standard until the 2016 expansion admitted Neopanamax giants. Low water closed Panama lanes repeatedly in 2023.

Chokepoints shape which ports boom: Savannah and New York rose on all water Suez routes, while West Coast ports win when shippers fear canal delays.