Research Article
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The Global Fragility of International Trade Routes: Suez and Beyond

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 203 - 234, 28.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.25229/beta.1744403
https://izlik.org/JA38RB52TG

Abstract

The global trade monopoly is mainly carried out by sea. The security and continuity of these routes are of vital importance for the functioning of global supply chains. In the evaluation carried out especially on the example of the Suez Canal (SC), the decisive effect of such passages on global supply chains is revealed. The effects of the Ever-Given crisis that occurred in 2021 and the Yemen crisis that started in 2023 and is still ongoing on international trade, specifically on the SC, are analyzed in detail. Based on a qualitative methodology, this study is not a security-based study, but a detailed examination of the geopolitical, economic and strategic contexts of the SC and the relationship and fragility of international maritime trade routes with global trade.
The study discusses alternative transportation corridors and multilateral cooperation mechanisms that can be developed to reduce the dependence of global trade on such bottlenecks and focuses on possible solutions. In conclusion, the need for a more resilient global trade and the construction of flexible logistics infrastructures to ensure the continuity of international trade is emphasized.

References

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  • Bayırhan, İ. and Gazioğlu, C. (2021). New maritime trade routes in the arctic region: One of the strongest alternatives to the Suez Canal, International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics (IJEGO), 8(3), 397-401.
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  • Helwa, R., & Al-Riffai, P. (2025, 20 Mar.). Suez Canal’s security matters for the world, Atlantic Council. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/a-lifeline-under-threat-why-the-suez-canals-security-matters-for-the-world/
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  • Lee, H.L., Padmanabhan, V. & Whang, S. (1997). The bullwhip effect in supply chains, Sloan Management Review, Spring, 93-102.
  • Lee, P. T. W., Hu, Z.H., Lee, S.J., Choi, K.S. & Shin, S.H. (2018). Research trends and agenda on the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative with a focus on maritime transport, Maritime Policy & Management, 45(3), 282-300.
  • Lessi, G. (2024). Strategic significance of the Suez Canal: Analyzing maritime chokepoints, geopolitical equilibria, and their impact on world trade flows (Unpublished master’s dissertation). University of Ca’Foscari, Venezia.
  • Li, R. (2022). The impact of transportation delays on the supply chain: Using the Suez Canal as an example, (Unpublished master’s thesis). Logistics Engineering College, Chongqing Financial and Economic College, Chongqing, China.
  • Li, X. (2025). The “Belt and Road” international production capacity cooperation and its prospects. In G. Xiang, K. Gouliamos, L. Zuokui, & C. Kassemieris (Eds.), The Belt and Road Initiative, 163-194. Palgrave Macmillan.
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Uluslararası Ticaret Yollarının Küresel Kırılganlığı: Süveyş ve Ötesi

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 203 - 234, 28.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.25229/beta.1744403
https://izlik.org/JA38RB52TG

Abstract

Küresel boyutta kurulan ticaret tekeli, ağırlıklı olarak deniz yoluyla gerçekleştirilmektedir. Bu yolların güvenliği ve sürekliliği, küresel tedarik zincirlerinin işleyişi açısından hayati önemdedir. Özellikle Süveyş Kanalı örneği üzerinden yürütülen değerlendirmede, bu tür geçitlerin küresel tedarik zincirleri üzerindeki belirleyici etkisi ortaya konulmaktadır. 2021 yılında meydana gelen Ever-Given krizi ve 2023 yılında başlayan ve halen devam etmekte olan Yemen krizinin, Süveyş Kanalı özelinde uluslararası ticaret üzerindeki etkileri detaylı bir şekilde analiz edilmektedir. Nitel araştırma metodolojisine dayanan bu çalışma güvenlik temelli bir çalışma olmayıp, Süveyş Kanalının jeopolitik, ekonomik ve stratejik bağlamda değerlendirilmesi, uluslararası deniz ticaret yollarının küresel ticaretle olan ilişkisi ve kırılganlığını detaylı bir şekilde incelemektedir.
Çalışma, küresel ticaretin bu tür darboğazlara olan bağımlılığını azaltmak amacıyla geliştirilebilecek alternatif ulaşım koridorlarını ve çok taraflı iş birliği mekanizmalarını tartışmakta ve olası çözüm önerileri üzerinde durmaktadır. Sonuç olarak, uluslararası ticaretin sürekliliğini sağlamak için daha dirençli bir küresel ticaret ve esnek lojistik altyapıların inşasına duyulan ihtiyaç vurgulanmaktadır.

References

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  • AlFadhli, M.S., AlAli, M.S. & AlKulaib, H.A. (2021). The effect of Suez Canal blockage on crude oil prices: An event study analysis, IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 23(4, Ser. II), 64-66.
  • Asadollah, O., Carmy, L.S., Hoque, M.R. & Yilmazkuday, H. (2024). Geopolitical risk, supply chains, and global inflation, The World Economy, 3450-3486.
  • Ayeni, O. (2025). Resilient project leadership: mitigating uncertainty, regulatory constraints, and global supply chain disruptions, International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science, 7(3), 216-235.
  • Basdekis, C., Christopoulos, A.G., & Katsampoxakis, J. (2024). Trends and challenges after the impact of COVİD-19 and the energy crisis on financial markets, Energies 2024, 17, 3857, 1-14.
  • Bayırhan, İ. and Gazioğlu, C. (2021). New maritime trade routes in the arctic region: One of the strongest alternatives to the Suez Canal, International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics (IJEGO), 8(3), 397-401.
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  • Fares, G. (2024). The economic and political consequences of the current supply chain crises, (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Metropolia University, Helsinki.
  • Furuichi, M., & Otsuka, N. (2013). Cost analysis of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the conventional route shipping. IAME Conference Proceedings. France: International Association of Maritime Economists.
  • Gerson, (2023). Stranding of the mega-ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal: causes, consequences, and lessons to be learned. In C. Lutmar & Z. Rubinovitz (Eds), The Suez Canal: Past Lessons and the Future Challenges, 27-41. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Georgescu, A. (2025). The Belt and Road Initiative: Supply chain resilience as a prerequisite for sustainability. In Xiang, G., Gouliamos, K., Zuokui, L., Kassemieris, C. (Eds.), The Belt and Road Initiative 195-216, Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Gonen, E. (2023). China and the Suez Canal-politics, economy, and logistics. In C. Lutmar & Z. Rubinovitz (Eds.), The Suez Canal: Past lessons and the future challenges, 27-41. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Gopaldas, R. (2025, 29 Apr.), African role in Shaping New Global Trade Corridors, Retrieved May 26, 2025, from
  • Gopaldas, R. (2025, 29 Apr.). African role in shaping new global trade corridors, Nanyang Technological University. Retrieved May 26, 2025, from https://www.ntu.edu.sg/cas/news-events/news/details/african-role-in-shaping-new-global-trade-corridors
  • Hafez, R.M. & Madney, I. (2020). Suez Canal region as an economic hub in Egypt: Location analysis for the mass real estate appraisal process, HBRC Journal, 16(1), 59-75.
  • Helwa, R., & Al-Riffai, P. (2025, 20 Mar.). Suez Canal’s security matters for the world, Atlantic Council. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/a-lifeline-under-threat-why-the-suez-canals-security-matters-for-the-world/
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  • Krane, J. (2024, 5 Apr.). Houthi Red Sea attacks have global economic repercussions, Arab Center Washington DC. Retrieved March 17-2025, from https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/houthi-red-sea-attacks-have-global-economic-repercussions/
  • Lee, H.L., Padmanabhan, V. & Whang, S. (1997). The bullwhip effect in supply chains, Sloan Management Review, Spring, 93-102.
  • Lee, P. T. W., Hu, Z.H., Lee, S.J., Choi, K.S. & Shin, S.H. (2018). Research trends and agenda on the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative with a focus on maritime transport, Maritime Policy & Management, 45(3), 282-300.
  • Lessi, G. (2024). Strategic significance of the Suez Canal: Analyzing maritime chokepoints, geopolitical equilibria, and their impact on world trade flows (Unpublished master’s dissertation). University of Ca’Foscari, Venezia.
  • Li, R. (2022). The impact of transportation delays on the supply chain: Using the Suez Canal as an example, (Unpublished master’s thesis). Logistics Engineering College, Chongqing Financial and Economic College, Chongqing, China.
  • Li, X. (2025). The “Belt and Road” international production capacity cooperation and its prospects. In G. Xiang, K. Gouliamos, L. Zuokui, & C. Kassemieris (Eds.), The Belt and Road Initiative, 163-194. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Linstad, H., Bright, R.M., & Strømman, A.H. (2016). Economic savings linked to future Arctic shipping trade are at odds with climate change mitigation, Transport Policy 45, 24-30.
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  • Logvinov, A. (2024). Crisis management in global trade: Analysis of container crises, the Red Sea crisis, and the Suez Canal crisis, (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Metropolia University, Helsinki.
  • Manners-Bell, J. (2021, 13 Apr.). Supply chain resilience: Lessons from the Suez Canal blocking, Kogan Page. Retrieved March 28, 2025 from https://www.koganpage.com/logistics-supplychain-operations/supply-chain-resilience-lessons-from-the-suez-canal-blocking
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  • Notteboom, T., Haralambides, H. & Cullinane, K. (2024). The Red Sea crisis: Ramifications for vessel operations, shipping networks, and maritime supply chains, Maritime Economics & Logistics 26, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-024-00287-z
  • Novak, E., Kutnjak, A. & Hrustek, L. (2022). Opportunities for a digital transformation of the global supply chains: case study of the Suez Canal blockade, In Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (137-147). Faculty of Organization and Informatics, Varazdin.
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There are 61 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Regional Development and Globalisation in International Economics
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ferat Kaya 0000-0003-3704-7251

Submission Date July 17, 2025
Acceptance Date October 23, 2025
Publication Date February 28, 2026
DOI https://doi.org/10.25229/beta.1744403
IZ https://izlik.org/JA38RB52TG
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Kaya, F. (2026). The Global Fragility of International Trade Routes: Suez and Beyond. Bulletin of Economic Theory and Analysis, 11(1), 203-234. https://doi.org/10.25229/beta.1744403

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