On 23 August 2026, Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced a reshuffle of its Red Sea service coverage, with the new schedule taking effect in early September. The carrier is replacing its existing RES (Red Sea Express) and CRX (China Red Sea Express) loops with a single upgraded RC2 service. If you are responsible for Shipping from China to Saudi Arabia or Shipping from China to Jordan, this change directly affects which Chinese ports load your cargo, how long the voyage takes, and how easily you can book space to Jeddah and Aqaba.
What ONE announced
According to the carrier’s latest service update, ONE will consolidate its Red Sea offering into one weekly loop — the RC2 — and upgrade the vessels assigned to the route. The key points are:
- Service merge: RES and CRX are folded into the new RC2 rotation.
- Larger ships: the loop will move from roughly 4,500 TEU vessels to about 6,500 TEU vessels.
- New rotation: Shanghai → Ningbo → Nansha → Jeddah → Aqaba → Sokhna → Shanghai.
- Effective date: early September 2026, subject to final sailing schedules.
This is the most significant Red Sea network change ONE has made since the Bab el-Mandeb attacks and the wider Red Sea shipping crisis began to reshape carrier routing.
New RC2 rotation and what it means
| Port | Role in RC2 | What shippers should know |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | North China origin call | Still the main Yangtze Delta loading point |
| Ningbo | North China origin call | Now the sole northern-origin port after Qingdao was removed |
| Nansha | South China origin call | Added to the rotation; replaces the previous Shekou call |
| Jeddah | Saudi Arabia hub | Main Red Sea discharge port for Saudi-bound cargo |
| Aqaba | Jordan gateway | Direct call for Jordan, Iraq and Levant re-exports |
| Sokhna | Egypt return call | Feeder/transhipment point before the return leg to Asia |
The removal of Qingdao and Shekou from this particular loop is notable. Shippers in the Shandong and Pearl River Delta regions will now need to truck or rail cargo to Ningbo or Nansha, or rely on alternative ONE feeder services to connect to the RC2.
Impact on transit times from China
The new RC2 rotation is expected to keep overall voyage lengths close to current market levels, but some lanes will shift by a few days:
| Origin port | Destination | Current/expected transit time (days) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ningbo | Jeddah | 18–22 | Similar to previous RES/CRX averages |
| Shanghai | Jeddah | 20–24 | Slightly longer because Ningbo now precedes Jeddah |
| Nansha | Jeddah | 16–20 | New direct option for South China exporters |
| Ningbo | Aqaba | 21–25 | Adds 2–3 days after Jeddah |
| Nansha | Aqaba | 19–23 | New direct option, competitive with trucking from Jebel Ali |
These figures are sailing-time estimates only and do not include customs clearance, vessel waiting time, or inland trucking to Riyadh, Amman or Baghdad. If your supply chain is time-sensitive, air freight from China to GCC remains the safest hedge against sailing-schedule shifts.
Why Saudi Arabia and Jordan matter for this service
Jeddah and Aqaba are the two Gulf-of-Suez ports that ONE kept in the new rotation, which underlines their commercial importance.
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea container gateway. For cargo moving to the Western Region — including Riyadh via the Jeddah–Riyadh corridor — the RC2 call remains the most direct option. The service also feeds cargo that continues overland to GCC Freight sea freight consolidation and distribution hubs.
Jordan
Aqaba is Jordan’s only seaport and a re-export hub for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. A direct ONE call at Aqaba means Jordanian importers do not have to tranship through Jeddah or Jebel Ali, reducing one handling step and shortening total lead time. If you route cargo through Jordan to reach landlocked markets, the RC2 is worth watching closely.
What shippers should do now
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Review your booking terms for September sailings Confirm whether your existing ONE booking is on the old RES/CRX rotation or the new RC2. Port calls and vessel names are changing.
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Check your factory/cargo location against the new port calls If you previously loaded from Qingdao or Shekou on ONE’s Red Sea service, you will need to redirect cargo to Ningbo or Nansha or switch to a different carrier.
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Book earlier than usual Network reshuffles often cause a short-term squeeze on space as forwarders and BCOs lock in slots on the new rotation. We recommend booking 3–4 weeks ahead for sea freight to Jeddah or Aqaba.
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Monitor the Red Sea security picture ONE’s decision to return a larger vessel to the Red Sea loop reflects improved, but still fragile, security conditions. Keep tracking updates from UKMTO and your forwarder.
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Plan for potential schedule slippage in late August and early September The first few RC2 voyages may run late as the new rotation beds in. Build 5–7 days of buffer into your inventory plan.
Frequently asked questions
Why is ONE changing its Red Sea service now? The carrier is adjusting its network to match current Red Sea traffic levels and the return of some commercial shipping to the Suez/Bab el-Mandeb corridor. Consolidating two smaller loops into one larger loop also improves unit costs.
Will rates go up because of the larger ships? Larger vessels usually lower unit costs, but the overall rate level depends on demand, bunker prices and war-risk premiums. In the short term, network uncertainty may keep rates firm.
Is the Red Sea safe now? The situation is still unstable. While more carriers are scheduling Red Sea services again, UKMTO warnings and incidents continue. Treat it as a manageable but live risk.
Can I still ship from Qingdao or Shekou to Jeddah with ONE? Not on the RC2. You would need to use a feeder to Ningbo or Nansha, or choose another carrier that still calls Qingdao or Shekou on its Red Sea service.
What is the fastest option if my cargo is urgent? For urgent shipments, air freight from China to GCC avoids both the Red Sea and Hormuz chokepoints and delivers in 4–7 days.
GCC Freight can help you adapt
At GCC Freight, we track carrier schedule changes daily. Whether your cargo is moving on the new ONE RC2 or on an alternative service, we can help you:
- Confirm the best loading port and sailing for your cargo.
- Book FCL, LCL or air freight to Jeddah, Aqaba and other GCC ports.
- Handle customs clearance, SABER/ECAS and DDP delivery in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
- Switch quickly to air freight if a sailing is delayed or cancelled.
Get in touch today to lock in your September capacity.
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