Egypt announces gradual return of major container carriers to Suez Canal, signs strategic partnership with Maersk

CAIRO - 25 November 2025: Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, announced that major container carriers will begin resuming their transit through the Suez Canal, driven by the positive impact of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in restoring stability to the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb region that led to also the suspension of the Houthis’ attacks on vessels.

Admiral Rabie’s announcement was made in a joint press conference with A.P. Moller–Maersk Group CEO Vincent Clerc. The conference was followed by signing a strategic partnership agreement between the SCA and the group new marina building in Ismailia Governorate.


Admiral Rabie emphasized that the return of vessels represents a significant move that aligns with global efforts to maintain resilient supply chains via the Suez Canal, the world’s shortest, fastest, and safest shipping route between East and West. 

Commenting on the agreement, he said that the agreement will serve as a cornerstone for future relations, opening new avenues for cooperation in maritime and logistics services. 

In 2023 before the Red Sea and BAB El Mandeb crisis, Maersk vessels recorded 1,158 transits through the canal, with a total net tonnage of 127 million tons and revenues of $732.5 million, he said. 

Rabie highlighted the positive impact of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in restoring stability to the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb region, an essential step toward normalizing maritime traffic. He noted encouraging performance indicators in October and November, with expectations of continued improvement. 

He also expressed appreciation to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his efforts in resolving the crisis of Gaza war and restoring regional stability.

The SCA Chairman reported a recovery in canal traffic:

•  October: 1,136 vessels, 47.1 million tons, and $372.9 million in revenue—compared to 40.4 million tons and $322.1 million in the same month last year.
• *Projected November: 1,156 vessels, 48.5 million tons, and $383.4 million in revenue—up from 1,000 vessels, 38.3 million tons, and $300.6 million last year. He noted that tonnage increased by 26 percent and the number of the ships increased by 15 percent. 

He added that upcoming rounds of discussions with global shipping lines will address scheduling updates and timelines for returning to Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb routes. He added that shipping companies said they are ready to return to the Suez Canal and avoid the Cape of Good Hope, which he described as unsustainable route. 

In the first year of the crisis, the number of transiting vessels dropped by 55%, and dollar revenues declined by 66%. This prompted Egypt to adopt a plan to develop both the maritime waterway and its maritime fleet. So far, Egypt has completed 40% of the comprehensive development works at the southern entrance of the Suez Canal, he added.

Admiral Rabie pointed to advanced negotiations with CMA CGM, which have already resulted in a decision to resume transit through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb in December. 

Rabie praised the strong cooperation with shipping agencies in overcoming challenges and improving client engagement.

Rabie affirmed that since the beginning of the Red Sea crisis, the SCA has strengthened communication with shipping lines, expanded its service network, upgraded its marine fleet, and adopted flexible pricing policies, including a 15% discount for container ships over 130,000 tons.

For his part, Mr. Vincent Clerc expressed appreciation for the SCA’s proactive policies and continuous communication during recent challenges. He stressed that the Suez Canal is not only essential for Maersk’s global shipping operations but also a strategic partner in the East Port Said Container Terminal. He thanked President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his support and for attending the inauguration of new terminals at East Port Said Port—an event that underscored the depth of the partnership.

Clerc reiterated that the Suez Canal “has been, is, and will remain” a central pillar of Maersk’s maritime network and expressed confidence that Maersk’s return will encourage other shipping lines to resume operations in the Red Sea region and the canal. He also emphasized the Suez Canal’s status as the most efficient and convenient waterway for global East–West trade, especially in light of the security challenges affecting the Mediterranean region over the past two years.

He expressed his appreciation for the long-standing partnership between Maersk and the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and extended his gratitude to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his continued support. He noted that this relationship, which is now more than a century old, remains essential to enabling the group to provide high-quality, sustainable services to its customers, reinforcing Egypt’s pivotal role in global supply chains. 

The Maersk Group CEO added that the partnership has strengthened Egypt’s connectivity with the world, expanding global access for Egyptian customers.

He stated that today’s meeting was an opportunity to discuss how to re-establish East–West trade flows as we know them.

Clerc also emphasized that the efficiency of global trade relies heavily on the freedom of navigation, a core value shared by both the Suez Canal Authority and A.P. Moller–Maersk. 

Over the past two years, this freedom has been disrupted in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, imposing significant costs on customers and on Egypt, he continued. That is why he welcomed the significant progress toward peace in Gaza and highlighted the pivotal role played by President Sisi and Egypt in hosting and mediating the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit. 

“The summit led to the formal signing of the Gaza ceasefire and helped unify international support for regional stability. Its outcomes mark a major diplomatic achievement and a clear indication that the region is moving decisively in the right direction,” he said. 

He also expressed optimism about the progress made in restoring freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, enabling the return of the most efficient maritime route.

He reaffirmed that the Suez Canal remains the artery of global trade and the vital link between East and West. 

“For Maersk and its customers, the canal is the preferred corridor for connecting markets and stands as a symbol of operational excellence and reliability,” Clerc said. 

Return of ship transits through Suez Canal hinges on evolving conditions

During today’s discussions, he said that Maersk and the SCA reviewed the regional geopolitical situation. He added that in light of the encouraging developments in both Gaza and the Bab el-Mandeb region, Maersk will begin taking steps to resume navigation along the East–West corridor via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, with the aim of gradually returning transit operations to normal. 

These steps will be taken as soon as conditions permit, with the safety of crew members remaining the highest priority, he added. 

He concluded by noting that the return to a stable, efficient trade route will be a positive development for all stakeholders in the global supply chain, especially Egypt. He expressed his eagerness to see Maersk vessels sailing through the Suez Canal again and looked forward to the canal regaining its full operational momentum in the near future.

In comments to Egypt Today’s questions, Clerc said that the return of the transiting ships seen today, from a navigational perspective, is not difficult to achieve. However, as the admiral noted, it will be a gradual process, allowing for controlled growth and the acceleration of supply chains.

“We have to be are that our plans with our different partnerships is that to have gradual return that allows us to manage[…] to rebuild the collapse in the supply chain,” he said.

He added that the group has orchestrated partnership and evaluation with the Suez Canal Authority to bring benefits to the company’s customers and avoid any new crisis in European terminals of any final destinations.