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.

A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTCPK:AMKBY) (OTCPK:AMKBF) said Monday it expects "widening" disruptions to container shipping on the Red Sea will cause the shipping industry to spend 15%-20% of its Asia-to-Europe vessel capacity during Q2 on sailing south of Africa to avoid the area.

Disruption to Red Sea container shipping is rising, Maersk said on Monday, forecasting this will cut the industry's capacity between Asia and Europe by up to 20% in the second quarter.

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.