Egypt climbed three spots in the UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, reaching 19th place globally in Q2 2025 – up from 22nd the previous quarter.

Recent data points to a strong operational performance in 2025 by the Suez Canal despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the transit of high-capacity vessels and a notable improvement in Egypt’s global maritime standing.

The Cabinet’s Media Center has released a series of infographics highlighting the Suez Canal’s resilience and ongoing development amid geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea.

The canal saw 661 ships reroute from the Cape of Good Hope to its waterways in the first half of the year, contributing to a 3.1% increase in vessel traffic.

Total transiting cargo rose 6% to 122.5 million tons in Q2, up from 115.6 million tons in Q1, pushing canal revenues to $975.8 million—an 8.3% increase over the previous quarter.

Several high-profile crossings underscored the canal’s growing capacity, including the rig ADMARINE260 in February, the oil tanker CHRYSALIS in its first voyage since July 2024, and the 180,000-ton mega container ship CMA CGM JULES VERNE in June.

Infrastructure upgrades have played a key role in enabling this growth. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) completed a major expansion of the southern section of the canal, increasing its capacity by 6–8 additional vessels and improving navigational safety by 28%. The project also reduced the impact of water currents on passing ships.

As part of its modernization push, the SCA added 24 marine support units to its fleet as of April 2025 and introduced new services including ship waste removal, maritime ambulance, pollution response, ship maintenance, refueling, and crew transfers. These are part of broader efforts to position the canal as a “green” waterway by 2030.

To attract more shipping lines back to the Red Sea, the authority launched a global promotional campaign offering 15% discounts on transit fees for container vessels with net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons—valid from May 15 to December 31, 2025.

According to Lloyd’s List, these incentives are part of the SCA’s strategy to restore the canal’s share of global traffic amid recent regional instability.

Meanwhile, Offshore Energy reported that the canal demonstrated remarkable resilience over the past two years, maintaining operations despite disruptions from attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea—further solidifying its position as one of the world’s most vital trade arteries.