Suez Canal blockage spurs transportation debate

China's choice

Yu, from Roland Berger, said the Suez Canal blockage showed that China has sufficient backup options for such incidents, allowing its transportation services to continue in the event of an emergency and ensuring at least partial operation of supply chains.

Maritime transportation accounts for about 90 percent of global trade volume and more than 70 percent of worldwide trade value, Yu said. While only about 1 percent of global trade is conducted by air, the combined value of products sent by plane amounts to one-third the total global trade value, he added.

Qi, from Guangzhou Civil Aviation College, said, "Each mode of transportation is unique and they can complement each other."

Experts suggested reducing reliance on the Suez Canal to ship goods between China and Europe.

After the canal was blocked last month, Maersk, the shipping and logistics business of A. P. Moller-Maersk Group, redirected some of its vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Lin, from Shanghai Maritime University, said this meant it took an extra three to five days for goods to arrive.

In addition to longer voyages, there are safety issues such as high winds, heavy seas and piracy, Zhou Shihao said.

Chen Zhuo, a senior analyst at China Merchants Securities, said, "Using the Suez Canal saves time, but the waterway also has its weaknesses."