The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has reported growth in both revenue and the number of transiting ships during the first days of 2026, data suggesting a gradual recovery of the Egyptian interoceanic route after security issues affected the Red Sea corridor since 2023. The SCA's president, Osama Rabie, presented these figures during the inauguration of the 15th edition of the International Maritime Transport and Logistics Conference (Marlog).
According to official data, between February 1 and 8, 2026, a total of 1,315 ships crossed the canal, with an approximate net tonnage of 56 million tons and revenue of 449 million dollars. These figures contrast with the same period in 2025, when 1,243 ships transited with 47 million tons and revenue of 368 million dollars. The increase represents a 22% improvement in year-on-year revenue for that time frame.
In broader terms, navigation statistics for the first half of the 2025-2026 fiscal year show a 5.8% increase in the number of ships in transit, a 16% increase in net tonnage, and an 18.5% rise in revenue compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. Additionally, during the last quarters of 2025, the SCA recorded sustained growth that translated into a 24.5% increase in revenue and 9% in ship traffic compared to the same period in 2024.
Rabie attributed the improvement to the gradual stabilization of the regional situation, particularly following the peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, which contributed to a ceasefire in Gaza and the restoration of some calm in the area. Attacks by the Houthi group from Yemen against commercial ships in the Red Sea had forced numerous shipping companies to divert their routes, avoiding transit through Suez in favor of longer and more costly alternatives, such as the detour around the Cape of Good Hope.
