CAIRO, Jan 22 – The Suez Canal Authority said revenue from the canal rose 18.5% in the first half of fiscal year 2025 to 2026, as more ships returned to the route and cargo volumes increased.
Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said the number of vessels that transited the canal climbed 5.8% from a year earlier in the period, He noted that net tonnage climbed 16% compared with the first half of fiscal year 2024 to 2025. Rabie described the performance as an early sign of a gradual recovery in canal traffic.
Rabie linked the rebound to improved security conditions in the Red Sea region, which has been a key factor in route decisions for global carriers. Several shipping lines have also resumed Suez transits as conditions stabilised.
Maersk resumed the trans Suez route for its MECL service on January 15, the authority said. The carrier described the canal as an important shipping corridor between East and West. Large container lines influence canal income because fees are tied to vessel size and the tonnage they carry.
These remarks were made at a meeting in Ismailia with representatives of 20 shipping lines and maritime agencies. The authority expressed that regular consultations with clients to coordinate sailing plans and align service offerings with shifting trade patterns.
The chairman maintained that the authority would continue to invest in upgrades to support navigation and safety citing expansion and duplication work in the canal’s southern sector and the introduction of new navigational services is intended to improve the transit experience for shipping companies.
The authority is also using discounts to attract more traffic. The canal has renewed circulars that offer a 15% discount for container ships with net tonnage of 130,000 tons or more, whether laden or in ballast stating that additional incentives are in the works for certain vessel types, based on proposals submitted by customers.
The Suez Canal is a revenue stream for Egypt and one of the world’s main trade routes. However, changes in Red Sea risk conditions have pushed some vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, extending voyages and raising costs. This recent improvement reveals a partial return of traffic to the traditional corridor.
In December, the Suez Canal Authority signed an agreement with the Namibian Ports Authority to cooperate on port development, marine construction, and maritime training.
