Opening of the Suez Canal

The Suez Canal created the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia, and it remains one of the most important chokepoints in container shipping. By removing the voyage around Africa, it cut roughly 8,900 km from the trip between the Arabian Sea and London. Work began at Port Said in April 1859 and took about ten years. The canal's importance shows whenever it closes: carriers reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding days, fuel cost, and surcharges that importers see as longer lead times and higher freight rates.

• Lead TimeTime from purchase order to sellable stock
• Fuel SurchargePercentage fee that tracks fuel prices
• Full Container LoadFCLOne shipper's goods in a whole container

• Ferdinand de Lesseps1805–1894 · Developer of the Suez Canal

• Vasco da Gama's Sea Route to India1497–1499 · Portugal reaches India by sailing around Africa
• SS Dunedin Refrigerated Shipment1882 · Frozen meat sails from New Zealand to London intact
• Opening of the Panama Canal1914 · A lock canal links the Atlantic and the Pacific

1. Ferdinand, viscount de Lesseps britannica.com
2. Suez Canal en.wikipedia.org