Suez Canal revenues expected to grow 7.6% in 2025: Osama Rabie

CAIRO - 10 November 2025: Suez Canal revenues are expected to reach $4.2 billion by the end of this year, compared to $3.9 billion last year, marking an increase of 7.6%, according to Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie.

He said the performance reflects the gradual recovery of global shipping through the Red Sea and the Canal, following a slowdown caused by regional security tensions.

Rabie stated that vessel traffic through the Canal rose 16% year-on-year in October, while dollar revenues increased 17% during the same month.

He added that the return of ultra-large container ships without military escort signals renewed confidence among global shipping companies.

A major container vessel, one of the largest in the world and absent from the Canal since October 2023, recently crossed fully loaded with around 179,000 tons of cargo, without any special protection measures.

Rabie described the passage as “normal and fully secure,” highlighting restored stability along the route.

Another mega-ship is scheduled to transit next week from north to south toward Malaysia, reinforcing what Rabie called a “step-by-step return to regular maritime operations.”

He emphasized that the truce agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh, brokered by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump with European and Arab participation, had a direct impact on stabilizing navigation in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandeb.

According to global insurance estimates, maritime risk levels in the region have declined by 35 percent, encouraging shipping companies to reconsider rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.

Rabie also confirmed that Maersk is reassessing its fleet schedules with plans to restore full Canal transit operations in early 2026. The company had previously halted part of its traffic after losing four vessels during the period of heightened tensions.

Despite continued challenges in global supply chains, Rabie said the Canal is gradually returning to pre-crisis operating levels. He added that the Authority is moving ahead with expanding capacity and increasing channel depth to accommodate larger ships.

Rabie concluded that sustained regional stability and the ongoing return of major liners are expected to pave the way for stronger revenue growth in 2026.