Suez Canal

Shipping Arabia, October 2, 2026 – Suez Canal ship traffic rose 17.38% year on year during the first eight months of 2026, with 9,602 vessels transiting the waterway compared with 8,180 during the same period of 2025. The increase of 1,422 vessels came alongside strong growth in cargo volumes and canal revenues.

Total revenues reached about $3.493 billion from January through August, up from approximately $2.594 billion during the corresponding period of 2025. That represented an increase of $898.96 million, or 34.64%.

Cargo volumes also recorded significant growth. Total tonnage reached 437.93 million tons during the eight-month period, compared with 328.22 million tons a year earlier, an increase of 109.71 million tons or 33.43%.

August Leads Suez Canal Ship Traffic Growth

August recorded some of the strongest monthly gains across the canal’s main performance indicators. Vessel traffic increased to 1,358 ships from 1,070 in August 2025, representing an additional 288 vessels and growth of 26.92%.

The article’s reported revenue figures for August showed income rising to $570.23 million from $361.99 million in the same month of 2025. This represented an increase of $208.24 million and year-on-year growth of 57.53%.

July also recorded strong growth. A total of 1,340 vessels transited the canal during the month, compared with 1,055 in July 2025. The increase of 285 vessels represented growth of 27.01%.

July revenues reached $506.74 million, up from $355.82 million a year earlier. The increase amounted to $150.92 million, or 42.41%.

Suez Canal Authority Highlights August Performance

Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, separately said the authority generated $567.1 million in August, compared with about $326 million during the same month of 2025, representing growth of 56.6%. His figures were presented during remarks at a World Maritime Day event held in Alexandria.

Rabiee also cited 1,358 vessel transits in August, compared with about 1,070 a year earlier, equivalent to growth of around 27%. Cargo volumes reached 68.3 million tons, compared with approximately 45.2 million tons in August 2025, an increase of 51.1%.

Regional Tensions Continue to Affect the Canal

Rabiee said the Suez Canal Authority continued to face the effects of geopolitical developments in the region and internationally. He referred to developments during September that, according to his remarks, included Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities on September 8 and Houthi control over the Mokha area near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on September 10.

He said these developments affected Saudi crude oil production and exports. According to the figures he presented, Saudi crude production fell to 6 million barrels per day from about 10 million barrels per day, while crude exports declined by around 1.1 million barrels per day in August 2026 to approximately 3.5 million barrels per day.

Rabiee also said Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline temporarily stopped operating following attacks on key energy facilities. The pipeline has an export capacity of 5 million barrels per day, according to his remarks.

He added that the escalation contributed to crude oil prices again exceeding $100 per barrel for the first time since May. Insurance companies also increased war-risk premiums, while Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of a national mechanism to insure war risks for cargoes and vessels, according to the source.

Despite those developments, Rabiee said navigation through Bab el-Mandeb had not been affected, with traffic ranging between 26 and 37 vessels per day. He added that major shipping lines had not announced changes to their Red Sea and Suez Canal routes despite continuing regional tensions.

Source: Al Mal

Shipping Arabia, October 1, 2026 – Global container shipping has adapted to prolonged disruptions across the Middle East, maintaining cargo flows through alternative routes and operational adjustments, but the industry’s return to normal conditions is expected to be considerably more gradual.

Shipping companies have spent months adjusting their networks in response to disruptions affecting the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. While those measures have allowed global trade to continue, they have come at the expense of higher operating costs, longer voyages and reduced network efficiency.

Several Maersk services have now returned to the Red Sea and Suez Canal route after earlier diversions prompted by regional security concerns, providing one of the clearest indications that carriers are gradually restoring some of their traditional routing.

Maersk’s global head of chemicals, Patrick Hore, said the container shipping system had adapted to disruption in the Middle East, although vessel availability and irregular trade flows continued to present significant challenges. The carrier has been increasing the number of services operating through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, including six major Asia-Europe services as well as services connecting the Middle East with Europe and North America.

For the wider industry, however, adaptation should not be confused with a complete return to normal operating conditions.

AbdulRahman Taleb Ali, a maritime specialist and researcher, board member of the Jordan Shipping Association and founder of Shipping Arabia, a leading maritime news platform covering the Middle East and North Africa, told CNN Business Arabic that the global maritime shipping system had successfully adjusted to disruptions in both the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, but that this adjustment had come at a cost to efficiency and operating expenses.

Shipping companies have maintained the movement of cargo by introducing alternative routes, particularly around the Cape of Good Hope, but longer voyages have increased fuel consumption, security-related expenses and other operating costs.

The gradual return to the Suez Canal represents another part of that adaptation process rather than an immediate restoration of pre-disruption shipping patterns.

Ali said carriers continue to assess security risks, market demand and costs as they determine when and how to restore services through the canal. Suez nevertheless remains the shortest and most efficient maritime connection between Asia and Europe.

A broader return to the Suez route could reduce both transit times and transportation costs for cargo moving from China and other Asian markets into Europe, while helping shipping networks regain some of the efficiency lost during prolonged diversions around southern Africa.

The transition is taking place against a backdrop of continued pressure on global container shipping capacity.

DHL Global Forwarding data cited by CNN Business Arabic showed that global freight rates continued to rise during September, with particularly strong upward pressure on eastbound trans-Pacific services.

Carriers are also gradually increasing their use of the Suez Canal. Around 18% of relevant Asia-Europe services are now planned to operate through the route, according to the report.

Capacity constraints, meanwhile, are not necessarily being driven by stronger cargo demand alone. ICIS reported that Maersk was operating at around 96% of capacity, with slower vessel movements through ports and inland distribution networks absorbing available ships and equipment.

Equipment availability has also evolved as shipping networks adjust.

Ali said shortages of empty containers were no longer the industry’s primary challenge, with the gradual return of services through the Suez Canal helping improve equipment availability. However, the continued use of the Cape of Good Hope by some carriers is contributing to imbalances in the distribution of empty containers between export ports.

Longer voyages around the Cape also require additional vessel capacity to maintain scheduled services. The consequences extend beyond the additional distance, with carriers facing higher fuel consumption, insurance premiums and war-risk costs, as well as increased seafarer wages and risk allowances.

These pressures are being compounded by strong demand for shipping capacity and limited routing alternatives in parts of the global network.

A larger shift back toward the Red Sea and Suez Canal could ultimately ease some of these pressures by shortening voyages and releasing vessel capacity. In the short term, however, the transition itself could create a new operational challenge for European ports.

Ships travelling through the Suez Canal reach Europe considerably faster than vessels continuing around the Cape of Good Hope. As carriers gradually restore Suez routings, faster vessels using the canal could therefore arrive at European ports at approximately the same time as slower ships that departed earlier via southern Africa.

This convergence could temporarily increase congestion at some European terminals.

DHL data showed that global port congestion was approaching capacity equivalent to 4 million containers, highlighting the pressure already affecting parts of the international logistics network.

Ali said any congestion resulting from the overlapping arrival patterns should be viewed as a transitional challenge rather than a permanent condition. As shipping lines progressively restore traditional routes, ports and shipping networks will need time to realign vessel schedules, equipment flows and capacity.

The developments illustrate how the global shipping industry has demonstrated its ability to adapt to prolonged geopolitical disruption, but also how difficult it is to reverse those adjustments once networks have been reorganized around alternative routes.

The return to Suez is therefore likely to remain progressive. Even as more services resume passage through the Red Sea, carriers will continue balancing security, cost and operational considerations while global shipping networks work through the consequences of months of altered vessel schedules and longer voyages.

Source: CNN Business Arabic

Shipping Arabia, September 30, 2026 – Major shipping lines are increasing or considering a return to Suez Canal transits as more maritime services resume using the waterway, according to discussions between the Suez Canal Authority and representatives of 20 major shipping lines and shipping agencies.

Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, said flexible pricing policies and effective communication with customers have contributed to the return of a significant number of maritime services operated by major shipping lines. He also stressed that readiness and preparedness levels across the Canal’s operational system have been elevated, while navigation continues to proceed smoothly.

The meeting was held at the SCA’s headquarters in the Irshad Building in Ismailia. It was attended by senior Authority officials, including SCA deputy chairmen Admiral Ashraf Atwa and Admiral Ahmed Khaled, along with board members and senior officials.

Suez Canal Transits Increase Among Major Carriers

The meeting formed part of the SCA’s regular engagement with stakeholders across the maritime sector. These include international organizations, major shipping lines, international chambers of shipping, shipping agencies and other relevant entities.

Rabiee described shipping line and agency representatives as important partners and a key link in maintaining communication with major carriers. He said the SCA remains ready to discuss ways of supporting its customers and has continued modernizing its navigational and maritime services to meet vessel requirements under both normal and emergency conditions.

He also encouraged customers to provide feedback on the Authority’s new maritime and logistics services through evaluation channels available on the SCA website. The objective, he said, is to maintain high standards of service quality and operational efficiency.

CMA CGM Group in Egypt and Sudan CEO Tarek Zaghloul said the carrier has continued transiting the Suez Canal since Red Sea tensions began. He reported that 60 CMA CGM vessels passed through the Canal during September, reflecting the carrier’s continued use of the route.

A.P. Moller-Maersk Group Representative in the Middle East and North Africa Hany El Nady also highlighted an increase in the company’s Suez Canal activity. He said Maersk transits rose from eight vessels in September 2025 to 67 in September 2026 and expected yearly transits to reach 278 in the future.

Yang Ming, OOCL and COSCO Consider More Canal Traffic

Several other carriers indicated that they are considering renewed or increased Suez Canal transits.

Ashraf Sami, General Manager of Branches at Yang Ming, praised the SCA’s infrastructure development, modernization of its maritime fleet and efforts to improve workforce efficiency. He said Yang Ming is seriously considering returning to Suez Canal transits in the near future.

Abd El-Aziz Nabil, General Manager of maritime agency INCHCAPE, said OOCL intends to return to the Canal. He expected the carrier to conduct an experimental transit during October.

COSCO General Manager Hany El-Sallamy said the carrier is considering increasing its voyages through the Canal following a successful transit by one of its container ships a few days earlier. He added that three further COSCO vessels are scheduled to transit the Canal during the coming period.

Mohamed El-Alfy, General Manager of Gulf Agency Company, said the current period is showing positive signs as a number of maritime services operated by major shipping lines return. He also expressed expectations for higher traffic levels through the Canal in the coming period.

SCA Highlights Readiness and Crisis Monitoring

Rabiee emphasized the Canal’s operational readiness and said SCA pilots continue to demonstrate high levels of performance and preparedness.

He also addressed the impact of geopolitical challenges on the maritime industry. According to Rabiee, regional developments have affected the sustainability of global supply chains and contributed to higher fuel prices, freight rates and insurance premiums, increasing pressure on global maritime transport.

The SCA’s Crisis Management Center is monitoring regional developments around the clock and assessing their potential impact on Canal navigation. The Authority’s Economic Research Unit within the Planning Department is also evaluating these developments.

Participants discussed the regional situation and its effects on navigation schedules and operational plans. They also explored ways to strengthen future cooperation between the Authority, shipping lines and maritime agencies.

Shipping Agencies Back SCA Services and Shipyard Capabilities

Rear Admiral Ehab El Banan, Chairman of Clarkson Shipping Agency Company, praised the SCA’s approach of consulting shipping lines and maritime agencies and exchanging views with them. He said this cooperation supports the development of a shared vision and decisions that serve mutual interests.

El Banan also expressed hope for greater regional stability, which he said would support recovery and growth in Canal navigation. He described the Suez Canal as the shortest and most cost-effective maritime route.

Adel Ellameey, a member of parliament and Chairman of the Port Said Navigation Chamber, praised the Authority’s crisis management efforts and the quality of its services, particularly ship maintenance and repair. He proposed exploring an expansion of navigational services through cooperation between the SCA and private shipping agencies.

Ellameey also proposed that the Authority organize a global maritime conference bringing together major stakeholders from across the maritime community. The proposed event would also provide an opportunity to promote the SCA’s range of services.

Wassim Shukri, Director of the Canal region at maritime agency WILHELMSEN, praised the Authority’s efforts to upgrade services offered to transiting ships. He highlighted mooring, maintenance and repair services and referred to maintenance and repair work carried out on the vessel RED ZED at Suez Shipyard Co.

Wider Maritime Industry Participation

The meeting also included representatives of SPHINX, LETH, NOATUM MARITIME, ARKAS, FENMAR, MEDLEVANT, Damanhour Shipping Agency and Assiut Shipping Agency. Representatives from shipping lines ONE and EVERGREEN also participated.

The broad attendance formed part of the SCA’s ongoing engagement with shipping companies and maritime service providers as it seeks to maintain direct communication with Canal users.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Rabiee reiterated the Suez Canal’s readiness to deal with difficult situations and emergencies. He also stressed the Authority’s ability to meet customer expectations and operational requirements as shipping lines reassess their routing through the Canal.

Source: Suez Canal Authority

Shipping Arabia, September 27, 2026 – Rising container freight rates on services from Asia are adding further cost pressure to Egyptian trade, as shipping and operating expenses increase across supply chains, according to Amr El-Samdouni, Secretary-General of the International Transport and Logistics Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

El-Samdouni said current freight quotations from Chinese ports to Damietta indicate elevated container transport costs. Rates vary significantly depending on the shipping line, route and sailing date.

The cost of shipping a 20-foot container currently ranges from $3,350 to $4,075, while rates for a 40-foot container range from $5,100 to $5,375.

China–Damietta freight rates remain elevated

El-Samdouni said the published rates cover shipments from Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao and Shanghai to Damietta.

From Ningbo to Damietta, the rate on ONE’s direct service stands at around $3,350 for a 20-foot container and $5,100 for a 40-foot container.

On YML services from Ningbo, the corresponding rates rise to approximately $3,950 for a 20-foot container and $5,150 for a 40-foot container.

Rates from Shanghai vary more widely. A 20-foot container costs between $3,400 and $4,075, while a 40-foot container is quoted at between $5,175 and $5,375, depending on the carrier.

Some services also include additional charges. These include an ENS fee of $35 per bill of lading, as well as overweight surcharges for containers exceeding specified weight thresholds.

Depending on the shipment weight, overweight charges on some services can add as much as $600 to the cost of a 20-foot container.

Higher freight costs spread through supply chains

El-Samdouni said these freight levels directly affect the cost of Egyptian imports, particularly production inputs, raw materials and intermediate goods.

He added that higher shipping costs can also affect the cost of Egyptian products destined for foreign markets, increasing the need for close monitoring of maritime freight market developments.

The impact, he said, does not stop at the ocean freight rate itself. Higher transport costs can spread through the wider supply chain, affecting storage, inland transportation, insurance and port-related services.

If elevated maritime transport costs continue for extended periods, the cumulative effect could raise the final cost of goods.

Egypt’s ports and Suez Canal gain strategic importance

El-Samdouni said higher maritime transport costs reinforce the importance of Egypt’s geographic position, the Suez Canal and the country’s ports.

He said Egypt could use these advantages to attract more shipping lines and provide integrated logistics services for vessels and cargo.

However, he stressed that improving the competitiveness of Egyptian ports depends on more than transit charges or the cost of individual services.

According to El-Samdouni, a competitive port system also requires faster cargo clearance, improved logistics services, greater container-handling efficiency and stronger links between ports, industrial zones and distribution centers.

Red Sea and routing decisions remain key freight factors

El-Samdouni said marine fuel prices, developments affecting navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and shipping lines’ decisions on vessel routing will remain important factors in determining freight rate trends during the coming period.

He also said Egypt has an opportunity to make greater use of its strategic location by developing its ports and the Suez Canal into integrated centers for trade, logistics services and re-export activity.

Such development, he said, could help reduce the impact of fluctuations in global transport costs while supporting the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.

Source: Erem Business

Shipping Arabia, September 25, 2026 – Suez Canal traffic continued to recover in August, with 1,358 vessels carrying 68.3 million net tonnes through the waterway as monthly revenue climbed 56.7% year-on-year to $567.1 million.

Suez Canal Authority Chairman and Managing Director Adm. Ossama Rabiee announced the figures during Egypt’s World Maritime Day 2026 event in Alexandria, saying navigation through the canal remains regular and marine services are operating at full readiness.

August vessel transits increased 27% from 1,070 ships a year earlier, while net tonnage rose 51.1% from 45.2 million tonnes. Revenue increased from $326 million in August 2025 to $567.1 million this year.

Rabiee said recent navigational reports point to improving traffic levels following the disruption to global shipping and supply chains caused by regional and international developments in recent years.

Alongside efforts to support the recovery of canal traffic, the SCA is expanding its maritime services and industrial activities as part of a strategy to diversify revenue beyond transit fees.

The authority has been developing its shipyards and affiliated companies to expand the domestic construction of marine units while pursuing private-sector partnerships and international markets.

Its growing portfolio of services includes shipbuilding and repair, bunkering, marine ambulance services and crew changes, providing additional support to vessels during their Suez transits.

The SCA is also expanding its involvement in port development and maritime training outside Egypt. Rabiee highlighted the authority’s participation in the redevelopment and reopening of Sirte Port in Libya after 14 years of closure, while its Maritime Training and Simulation Academy has modeled Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al-Khair Port.

The authority is also negotiating work involving the simulation of two ports in Namibia, alongside training programmes for pilots and tug masters.

The latest traffic figures add to signs of a gradual recovery in Suez Canal activity as shipping lines reassess longer Cape of Good Hope diversions and selected services return to the Red Sea-Suez route.

Source: Suez Canal Authority

Shipping Arabia, September 23, 2026 – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is expanding its gradual return to the Suez Canal and Red Sea, with the carrier restoring westbound sailings on its Indusa service as part of a broader, service-by-service resumption of East-West traffic through the region.

The Indusa service, linking the Indian subcontinent with the United States and Mexico, will resume Red Sea routing for westbound cargo beginning with MSC Domna X, voyage IV637A, departing Colombo on September 23.

Eastbound Indusa sailings will continue to operate around the Cape of Good Hope, reflecting MSC’s cautious approach as it continues to assess security and operational conditions in the Red Sea.

The move follows MSC’s August decision to partially restore Suez Canal transits on selected East-West services. The carrier had identified sailings on its Jade, Albatros, Himalaya and Tiger services for the initial phase, covering Asia-Mediterranean, Asia-North Europe and India-Mediterranean trades.

MSC said the transition is being implemented on a case-by-case basis, with individual booking confirmations and online schedules updated progressively as voyage plans change.

The carrier is maintaining contingency arrangements that allow individual vessels to be rerouted if conditions require, while continuing to monitor developments with relevant authorities and security partners.

The addition of Indusa represents another step in the progressive restoration of container services through Suez, as major carriers reassess Cape of Good Hope diversions and gradually return capacity to the shorter maritime corridor linking Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe and the Americas.

Source: Almal News

Shipping Arabia, September 21, 2026 – Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are returning four additional Gemini Cooperation services to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, marking another significant step in the gradual restoration of Asia-Europe container shipping through the shorter trans-Suez corridor.

The carriers announced that the AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 services — known respectively as NE4, SE2, SE1 and IEX in Hapag-Lloyd’s network — will shift from routing around the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal following a further assessment of security conditions in the Red Sea.

The changes expand the number of Gemini services returning to Suez following earlier resumptions. Maersk said the four services will join AE15 and AE19, which are already operating through the canal.

The first westbound sailings include Antonia Maersk on AE11 and Cornelia Maersk on ME2, both departing their final Asian calls before Suez on September 19, followed by Marchen Maersk on AE5 on September 21. The first AE12 sailing will be announced separately.

Eastbound implementation begins with Maastricht Maersk on AE5 on September 22, followed by Maersk Halifax on AE11 on September 28 and Cornelia Maersk on ME2 on October 31.

The returning services connect major Asian gateways with Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, including London, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, La Spezia, Genoa, Koper and Rijeka.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said routing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal provides shorter and more efficient transit times between Asia and Europe compared with the diversion around the Cape of Good Hope.

Both carriers stressed that further network decisions will remain dependent on security conditions in the region, with crew, vessel and cargo safety continuing to determine the pace of the return.

The addition of four more Gemini services represents a further recovery of mainline container traffic through the Suez Canal, as carriers progressively restore capacity to the traditional Asia-Europe maritime corridor.

Source: Almal News

Shipping Arabia, September 21, 2026 – Container ship traffic through the Suez Canal is showing a significant recovery, with total net tonnage rising 54.2% during the first eight months of 2026, as major carriers gradually restore services through the waterway.

The Suez Canal Authority said container ships transiting the canal recorded approximately 72.1 million tonnes of net tonnage between January and August, compared with 46.7 million tonnes during the same period of 2025.

The recovery was highlighted by the first Suez Canal transit of the 24,000-TEU OOCL Portugal, which sailed through the waterway on September 16 during a voyage from Belgium to China.

The approximately 400-meter vessel, with a beam of 61.3 meters and gross tonnage of 247,000 tonnes, operates on the NEU2 service under the OCEAN Alliance, directly connecting major ports in the Far East and Northwest Europe.

Suez Canal Authority Chairman and Managing Director Adm. Ossama Rabiee said the voyage was particularly significant as it marked COSCO SHIPPING Lines’ first southbound transit through the Suez Canal since the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb disruption.

Rabiee said several major shipping lines have now restored maritime services through the canal on Asia-Europe trades, including CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and COSCO.

The return of additional mainline services is beginning to translate into higher containership tonnage through Suez after prolonged diversions around the Cape of Good Hope disrupted traditional Asia-Europe routing.

On September 16 alone, 39 vessels with combined net tonnage of 2.3 million tonnes transited the canal, according to the authority.

The figures provide a further indication of the gradual recovery of Suez Canal container traffic as carriers reassess Red Sea operations and progressively return capacity to the shorter Asia-Europe route.

Source: Suez Canal Authority

Shipping Arabia, September 20, 2026 – Container freight rates from Asia to the Mediterranean fell 12% to around $4,200 per FEU last week, as shipping lines continued restoring capacity through the Red Sea and Suez Canal despite renewed uncertainty around the Bab el-Mandeb.

Latest estimates from Sea-Intelligence indicate that more than a quarter of Asia-Europe capacity will operate through the Red Sea during September. Around 35% of headhaul capacity from Asia to the Mediterranean and 50% to 60% of return capacity has been restored through the Suez Canal.

The recovery has been slower on the Asia-North Europe trade, where only 6% of headhaul and 30% of backhaul capacity has returned to the route.

According to Freightos, the additional capacity and shorter transit times provided by returning to the Red Sea, combined with easing demand following the peak season, are contributing to downward pressure on freight rates.

Asia-Mediterranean rates dropped 12% to about $4,200 per FEU, while Asia-North Europe rates declined 3% to approximately $4,300. Daily rates on both trades have since fallen to around $3,800 per FEU.

The Mediterranean market has recorded the sharper correction. Rates from Asia are now around $3,000 per FEU below their July peak, compared with a decline of about $2,000 on the North Europe trade, reflecting the faster restoration of Red Sea capacity.

Rates nevertheless remain significantly above pre-peak-season levels, with congestion at Far East origin ports and North European hubs continuing to affect schedules and available capacity. Higher fuel costs and operational uncertainty could also influence carriers’ decisions over the pace of further Red Sea and Suez deployments.

Transpacific rates, meanwhile, moved slightly higher as strong demand and congestion continued to support spot markets. US import volumes are expected to begin easing, with October shipments forecast to fall 9% from September before declining further in November.

The contrasting trends underline how the gradual restoration of Red Sea and Suez Canal services is beginning to reshape capacity and freight-rate dynamics on Asia-Mediterranean trades, even as carriers continue to manage operational risks and congestion across major east-west networks.

Source: Almal News