Suez Canal Blockage: Importers have been told to brace for delivery delay of goods from Europe. This announcement was made by the shipping lines warning the importers in the country would see a delay in the arrival of goods and services from Europe.
This delay has been due to the blockage of the Suez Canal by a giant Japanese container ship called the Ever Given. The Ever Given is a 430-yard ship (400 meters) that is blocking the transit of goods and services on both directions of the Suez Canal, one of the busiest canals in the world that connects Europe, East Africa, and Asia. The canal is a major transit for oil, grain, and other trade items.
The world’s second busiest shipping line, the Mediterranean shipping Line, has warned that it expects to see some missing sailings in the future but denied that it had suspended booking worldwide due to the closure of the Suez Canal.
Other shipping line have also warned of disruption in the supply after more than 230 vessels were reported to have been stranded on both sides of the canal, where the Japanese Ship has been stuck since last Tuesday.
Shippers Council of East Africa Chief Executive Officer Gilbert Lagat said that the blockage would affect the East Africa supply chain. However he noted that the effect would be minimal sine the importation season is at its lowest.
The blockage has also affected importers of commodities such as tea from the port of Mombasa to Europe as most of the product is chipped via the Suez Canal.
Last week, the USA offered to help Egypt to unblock the Suez Canal blockage thereby allowing the flow of vessels within the canal.
