Twin crises at Suez and Panama canals force cargo ships back to 18th century trade routes

Container ships are diverting around Africa after attacks in the Red Sea, while Panama is severely disrupted by drought

Global supply chains are being disrupted as traffic through the world's two key man-made shipping lanes are interrupted. 

A year that started with smooth sailing for the global economy — vanishing supply snarls, slower inflation and fading pandemic gloom — is ending with another gathering storm as the maritime industry and retailers that rely on it confront crises in the world’s two big ocean-to-ocean canals. The sources of their woes are very different, but similarly acute.

Houthi militants, in a show of support of Hamas in its war with Israel, are attacking merchant ships as they sail past Yemen en route to and from Egypt’s Suez Canal.