The Suez Canal recorded a 24.5 percent increase in revenue, a nine percent rise in vessel traffic, and a 24.2 percent increase in cargo tonnage in the final quarter of 2025, signalling a partial recovery in navigation after a challenging period, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabiee said on Sunday.
He stated that the improvement followed a gradual easing of regional tensions and renewed confidence among shipping lines, noting that 2024 had been a “year of testing” for the canal amid developments that began in late 2023.
He said the canal has long proven its resilience in the face of major disruptions, stressing that it is “not merely a maritime passage, but a global icon capable of withstanding crises.”
Rabiee attributed the recent recovery to what he described as the leadership’s prudent political approach, saying diplomatic efforts helped restore stability and create a turning point for regional maritime security.
Rabiee made the remarks at the 15th International Maritime Transport and Logistics Conference, Marlog 15, organized by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport under the theme “Smart and Resilient Logistics Corridors: The Gateway to the Future of Green Global Trade.”
The conference, attended by Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir and senior regional and international officials, focuses on global shifts in maritime transport, including the development of green logistics corridors, the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to cut carbon emissions, and ways to strengthen supply chains against future shocks.
In late January, the giant container ship CMA CGM SEINE, one of the world’s largest container vessels, transited the canal for the first time as part of the northbound convoy, carrying a gross tonnage of about 250,000 tons.
Rabiee said the return of the world’s largest and most modern container ships to the canal reflects confidence in its readiness and global standing as a key artery for East–West trade.
Navigation through the Suez Canal has gradually resumed in recent months as several major shipping lines reassessed their routes following prolonged disruptions to global trade lanes, particularly in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandab.
The SCA responded by maintaining uninterrupted canal operations, enhancing navigational safety measures, and expanding pilotage and escort services for ultra-large container ships.
It also introduced flexible pricing and incentive policies to encourage shipping lines to restore regular transits through the canal.
Earlier in January, the SCA reported a marked recovery in canal activity, with revenues rising by 18.5 percent in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2025/2026, reflecting a gradual return of shipping traffic as security conditions in the Red Sea improved.
Global shipping has been heavily disrupted since October 2023, when many major carriers diverted vessels away from the canal amid attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea linked to the war in Gaza, resulting in estimated revenue losses of $7 billion for the authority.
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