Shipping Arabia, September 29, 2026 – New Alexandria container tariffs introduced by Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Company have raised the cost of several handling services, prompting industry concerns over their impact on import and export costs and the competitiveness of Egyptian ports in Mediterranean transit trade.
The revised tariff took effect at the beginning of September and comes as Egyptian ports experience increased transit activity following changes in regional shipping routes. Industry experts said the impact will depend partly on whether higher charges are accompanied by improvements in operational efficiency and service quality.
The company introduced four new charges and increased a fifth. The changes cover several container handling activities at its terminals in Alexandria and El Dekheila.
Alexandria Container Tariffs Add New Service Charges
The new charges include $15–$20 for the entry of full export containers, $10–$20 for empty-container ageing, $10–$20 for retaining containers in inspection yards, and $30–$60 for containers sent outside the terminal for weighing.
Inspection and examination charges were also increased to between $32 and $64, compared with a previous range of $30–$60.
All charges are collected in Egyptian pounds at the equivalent value of their dollar-denominated rates. The revised tariff will be reviewed every six months.
Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Company is the largest container terminal operator at Alexandria Port. Its terminals have annual capacity of approximately 1.5 million TEU.
According to Alexandria Port Authority data cited by Al Borsa, the company’s capacity represents about three-quarters of the combined container capacity at Alexandria and El Dekheila ports, which totals around 2 million TEU.
Alexandria Port accounts for approximately 60% of Egypt’s foreign trade. During fiscal year 2024–2025, the port handled a record 82 million tonnes of cargo, including around 28.3 million tonnes of containerized cargo.
Transit Traffic Seen as Particularly Sensitive to Costs
Ahmed Saber Salem, an international transport expert and supply chain consultant, said the tariff increase should be assessed from two perspectives: its potential to strengthen the terminal operator’s revenues and its effect on regional competitiveness.
He said Egyptian ports had benefited from increased transit activity as geopolitical developments altered regional shipping routes and encouraged some vessels to avoid areas affected by disruption. This redirected part of the cargo flow toward Mediterranean ports.
Salem said the higher fees could support Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Company’s revenues and profitability in local currency over the short term. The additional income could help offset rising operating costs, inflation, equipment replacement requirements and infrastructure development needs.
However, he said the increases could also place pressure on the company’s regional competitiveness, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. Higher overall costs for shipping lines and agents could make Egyptian terminals more expensive than competing alternatives.
Transit cargo is especially sensitive to both cost and operational performance because it is not destined for the domestic market. Shipping lines can therefore redirect containers to another transshipment hub if they find lower costs or more efficient services elsewhere.
Salem said the additional charges would also affect domestic trade by increasing costs borne by importers and exporters for services including storage, shipping and handling. Part of those additional costs could ultimately feed into imported goods prices.
Service Improvements and Transit Incentives Proposed
Salem called for any increase in Alexandria container tariffs to be linked with measurable improvements in terminal services.
He highlighted loading and discharge productivity, crane efficiency, shorter vessel waiting times outside the port and reduced time alongside the berth as areas where improved performance could help preserve the terminal’s attractiveness to shipping lines.
Faster and more efficient operations, he said, would mean shipping lines assess Alexandria not only on charges but also on the time required to complete port calls.
Salem also proposed a more flexible pricing system that distinguishes between transit and direct cargo. This could include discounts or incentives for transshipment containers while maintaining increases on selected other services.
He further suggested longer free-storage periods for containers, potentially extending to 21 days or more, as another measure to attract transit traffic and maintain competitiveness.
Importers and Exporters Assess Cost Impact
Mohamed Hussein, Chairman of IMEX Egypt, said the revised charges would increase the cost of handling imported and exported goods. However, he noted that the full impact remains unclear because the new tariff has only recently taken effect.
The additional costs would be borne by the party responsible for the shipment, whether the importer or exporter, depending on the commercial arrangement.
Hussein said other container terminals could gradually increase their service charges during the coming period, although he did not expect all terminals to implement increases simultaneously.
He warned that continuously rising service costs could eventually affect cargo volumes and said increases should remain within levels that do not negatively affect trade.
Hussein also said Alexandria’s container transit activity could be affected by the new charges. However, he expected transit volumes to continue amid regional conditions that have contributed to higher transshipment activity at Egyptian ports.
He argued that Alexandria Port remains competitive against other ports in the region and that the level of fees alone is not sufficient to determine a port’s overall competitiveness.
Exporters Weigh Logistics Costs Against Market Competition
Maher Abou Gabal, Regional Director of The Gate Group for fertilizer production and trading, said the new container service charges form part of an exporter’s overall product cost, although their impact on export competitiveness varies according to the destination market and customer demand.
An exporter may incorporate logistics costs into the final selling price. However, those costs become more significant when a customer can choose between several suppliers and compare competing offers from different countries.
Abou Gabal estimated that transport and related services from the factory to the port account for around 4% of the value of an exported shipment. A shipment worth approximately $50,000, for example, could incur about $2,000 in transport and associated service costs before reaching the port.
Any additional service cost therefore enters the exporter’s pricing calculations and negotiations with overseas customers.
He said Egyptian export competitiveness depends on more than a single service charge. Production costs, logistics, transport, government policies and export incentives collectively influence the final price offered in overseas markets.
Reducing transport and shipping costs, he added, is an important factor in supporting trade and expanding commercial exchange, particularly as Egyptian exporters seek new markets and opportunities arising from trade agreements.
Import Costs Already Face Freight and Risk Pressures
Osama Gaafar, a member of the General Division of Importers at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and Chairman of Pioneer Import & Export, said the revised Alexandria charges would add to import costs and could ultimately affect consumers.
The increase comes while maritime freight costs are already elevated, particularly for goods shipped from China to Egypt, amid disruptions affecting navigation around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb.
Gaafar said risks affecting vessels in the region had prompted some shipping companies to avoid Bab el-Mandeb until conditions improve. Higher freight rates and risk premiums have consequently added to the overall cost of imports.
He said it was difficult to calculate a single percentage impact from the new terminal fees because shipment values and costs vary widely by commodity.
Gaafar also expected other container terminals, including Damietta, to review their service charges over time, with increases potentially spreading gradually across the market.
He said shipping and service costs could decline if security conditions around Bab el-Mandeb and regional maritime routes improve sufficiently to allow vessels to return to their normal routes, easing some of the current cost pressures.
The debate over the new Alexandria container tariffs therefore comes at a time when Egyptian ports are seeking to capitalize on shifting regional cargo flows while maintaining their appeal to shipping lines, importers, exporters and transit operators.
Source: Al Borsa
