The disruption to container shipping traffic in the Red Sea is increasing and is expected to reduce the industry's capacity between the Far East and Europe by some 15%-20% in the second quarter, shipping group Maersk said on Monday.

Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, has announced that the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea will significantly impact the industry's capacity in the second quarter.

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S expects that the shipping industry this quarter will spend 15% to 20% of its Asia-to-Europe vessel capacity on sailing south of Africa to avoid the Red Sea.

Maersk is currently using 40 percent more fuel per journey, with charter rates currently three times higher than before ships were diverted.

Container line Maersk says the risk area from Houthi attacks has expanded further offshore lengthening the rerouted voyages and increasing costs.

Container vessels have been rerouted around the southern tip of Africa since to avoid attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea.

Due to the difficult security situation in the Red Sea, Danish shipping giant Maersk is expecting an industry-wide loss in freight capacity on routes from eastern Asia to Europe of 15% to 20% in the second quarter.