CAIRO – 29 December 2025: The Egyptian Cabinet’s Media Center has released a series of infographics highlighting Egypt’s election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2026-2027 term, a strategic milestone aimed at bolstering the role of Egyptian ports in global trade.
The victory reflects Egypt’s sustained presence in the global maritime system and its growing capacity to support maritime safety and efficiency.
Officials said the election is the culmination of a state-led comprehensive plan to modernize Egyptian ports, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the competitiveness of the nation's transport and logistics infrastructure.
The development comes amid a significant boom in the maritime transport sector, which the Cabinet noted has increased international confidence in Egypt’s regional and global role as a transit hub.
The infographics detailed international recognition of Egypt’s port development, noting that the country climbed four spots in the UNCTAD Shipping Connectivity Index to reach 19th place in the third quarter of 2025.
This marked an improvement from 23rd place in the same period in 2024. Egypt also ranked 23rd globally in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Ports Efficiency Index. Additionally, the World Bank ranked Port Said first regionally and third globally in the 2024 Container Terminal Performance Index, while Lloyd's Register listed both Port Said and Alexandria among the top 100 ports worldwide for 2025.
In a record-breaking development, Ain Sokhna Port entered the Guinness World Records for the deepest man-made harbor basin on land, reaching a depth of 19 meters.
Despite regional challenges, port traffic showed marked growth in 2024. Cargo handling capacity increased 5.2% to 183 million tons, up from 174 million tons in 2023, while cargo throughput rose 16% to 210 million tons. Ship calls increased by 12.5% to reach 16,200, and container throughput rose 7.1% to 9 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The government has successfully attracted six of the world’s largest shipping lines and seven major operators. Furthermore, an Egyptian-Italian Ro-Ro shipping line now operates between the ports of Damietta and Trieste, further integrating Egypt into European trade routes.
Egypt invested 129 billion Egyptian pounds (EGP) in seaport development between 2014 and 2024, focusing on several key strategic hubs. At Alexandria Port, the EGP 7 billion "Tahya Misr" multi-purpose terminal was constructed with a capacity of 12 million to 15 million tons, supported by new transport axes and a modern grain logistics station at berth 3/85.
Meanwhile, East Port Said completed 8.4 kilometers of quays, with an additional 6.2 kilometers currently underway. Notably, the Suez Canal Container Terminal performed the first green fuel refueling operation for ships in Africa and the Middle East in August 2023.
The development plan also extended to the Red Sea and Damietta. Upgrades to Nuweiba and Safaga ports included new warehouses and heavy truck yards totaling nearly EGP 140 million.
At Ain Sokhna, five basins were dredged to a 19-meter depth alongside the construction of 18 kilometers of quays and 30 kilometers of railway lines. Finally, Damietta Port established a new multi-purpose terminal and significant barrier expansions, with a total investment for these projects reaching EGP 4.8 billion.
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