Shipping Arabia, October 19, 2026 – Suez Canal container ship transits recorded a sharp increase between July and September 2026, with 166 medium-sized and mega vessels passing through the waterway, compared with just 16 during the same period in 2025. The figures were announced by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) as senior officials held discussions with CMA CGM on strengthening cooperation and encouraging the return of international shipping services.
The vessels generated a combined net tonnage of 29 million tons during the three-month period, compared with 2.4 million tons a year earlier. According to the SCA, the increase reflects higher transit volumes among medium-sized and mega container vessels, including ships exceeding 130,000 tons.
Suez Canal Container Ship Transits Show Strong Growth
SCA Chairman and Managing Director Adm. Ossama Rabiee presented the latest navigation figures during a video conference with Christine Cabau, CMA CGM Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations, and Tariq Zaghloul, CMA CGM Egypt and Sudan Cluster CEO.
The meeting, held on October 13, formed part of ongoing consultations between the Authority and the French shipping group. Discussions focused on CMA CGM’s navigation policies through the Suez Canal, opportunities for future cooperation, and efforts to encourage international shipping lines to fully restore their services through the waterway.
Rabiee emphasized the Suez Canal’s strategic importance to containerized trade, highlighting the operational savings achieved through shorter sailing distances and reduced transit times. He also stressed the Canal’s role in supporting economies of scale for container vessels.
According to Rabiee, the Suez Canal can accommodate 100% of the global container ship fleet, reinforcing its importance to international container shipping operations.
CMA CGM Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment to Suez Canal
During the discussions, Cabau reaffirmed CMA CGM’s long-standing strategic partnership with the Suez Canal Authority and expressed the group’s commitment to strengthening future cooperation.
She stated that CMA CGM continues to resume its maritime operations through the Canal, viewing the waterway as a permanent and sustainable shipping route.
Meanwhile, Rabiee highlighted the growing pressures facing global supply chains and their direct effects on fuel prices and freight rates. He emphasized the importance of maintaining efficient maritime transport routes amid these challenges.
The SCA Chairman also reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting shipping customers through an integrated package of maritime and logistics services. He described the Canal as the fastest, shortest, most efficient, and most sustainable shipping route, emphasizing its operational advantages for international trade.
CMA CGM PANTHEON Completes Maiden Suez Canal Transit
The discussions coincided with the maiden Suez Canal transit of the mega container ship CMA CGM PANTHEON, which passed through the waterway on October 13 as part of the north convoy.
The vessel was sailing from Morocco to Malaysia and recorded a net Suez Canal tonnage of 221,000 tons.
Another CMA CGM container ship, CMA CGM MONTE CRISTO, also transited the Canal as part of the same convoy.
The latest vessel movements come as the Suez Canal Authority continues its consultations with major shipping lines to strengthen cooperation and encourage the full restoration of international shipping services through the Canal.
Source: Suez Canal Authority
