File Photo: Cargo ships pass through the Suez canal. Photo courtesy of SCA.
The figures were released by Chairman of the SCA Lieutenant General Ossama Rabiee during a meeting with representatives of 20 international shipping lines and maritime agencies at the authority’s headquarters in Ismailia.
SCA Spokesman George Safwat said the talks reviewed recent developments in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandeb, their impact on global trade, and measures to stabilize navigation routes.
SCA Vice Chairman Admiral Ashraf Atwa and several board members of the board of directors also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Rabiee noted that the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace had a positive impact on restoring calm in the region, prompting many vessels to return to the canal.
He stressed the importance of direct communication with shipping clients to exchange views, coordinate navigation schedules, and protect mutual interests in the global maritime sector.
Improved operations and navigation safety
Rabiee said the SCA has taken major steps to enhance navigation safety and service efficiency, including completing the Southern Sector Development Project and deepening the western branch of Port Said by 17 kilometres.
The expansion, he added, supports operations at West Port Said Port and offers an efficient alternative to the eastern branch in case of emergencies.
He called on shipping agencies to share positive messages with global partners, commending French shipping giant CMA CGM for leading by example after sending back two 170,000-ton container vessels through the canal.
Meanwhile, Atwa thanked maritime agencies for serving as a vital link between the SCA and international shipping lines, stressing the authority’s ongoing efforts to meet client needs and raise service standards.
Global shipping lines commend SCA efforts
Representatives of major shipping companies welcomed the SCA’s role in restoring stability and confidence along the Red Sea route.
Clarksons praised the authority’s regular consultations and proposed tonnage-based incentives to encourage more ships to return, expressing optimism for a stronger rebound early next year.
Maersk confirmed plans to expand its investments in Egypt, citing government support and the recent meeting between Maersk Group Chairman Robert Uggla and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
CMA CGM highlighted its strategic partnership with the SCA, calling the canal a “turning point” in its global operations. The company said two of its 170,000-ton container ships have already resumed transiting.
Hapag-Lloyd, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), and COSCO Shipping Lines all voiced confidence in the Canal’s stability and projected faster recovery of north–south routes as global freight markets rebalance.
Wilhelmsen Group, LETH Egypt, and LBH Shipping praised the SCA’s marketing and pricing policies, suggesting additional incentives for tankers, bulk carriers, and LNG-powered vessels that can adjust their itineraries.
Inchcape Shipping Services and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation urged continued coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and global insurers to review the Red Sea’s high-risk classification and reduce insurance premiums, which remain a key obstacle to full recovery.
Noatum Maritime and Dominion Shipping Agencies said the return of vessels to the canal is inevitable, citing the growing number of crossings this year. Crystal Shipping praised the SCA’s flexible pricing and customer-oriented approach.
The Suez Canal, which handles about 12 percent of global trade, has faced major disruptions since late 2023 due to security tensions in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandeb Strait, forcing many shipping lines to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
The detours added 10–14 days to Asia–Europe voyages and significantly increased fuel, freight, and insurance costs.
Since early 2025, gradual stabilization in the Red Sea and diplomatic efforts, including Egypt’s hosting of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace, have helped ease tensions and restore confidence in the route.
The canal’s renewed traffic signals a key step toward normalizing global maritime trade through one of the world’s most vital waterways.
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