Suez Canal traffic increased in August 2026, with 1,358 vessels transiting the waterway carrying a combined net tonnage of 68.3 million tonnes and generating $567.1m in revenues, according to Osama Rabie, Chairperson of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).
Rabie made the remarks during Egypt’s World Maritime Day 2026 celebrations, organised by the Maritime Transport Sector of the Ministry of Transport in Alexandria under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Maritime Excellence”.
August traffic compared with 1,070 vessels carrying 45.2 million tonnes in net tonnage and generating $326m in revenues in August 2025.
The latest figures represent annual increases of 27% in vessel numbers, 51.1% in net tonnage, and 56.7% in revenues.
Rabie said geopolitical developments and disruptions to global trade and supply chains in recent years have directly affected maritime traffic through the Suez Canal.
He said the authority has adopted flexible policies and measures aimed at maintaining operational efficiency while developing new sources of revenue and expanding maritime services.
According to Rabie, the SCA is also working to localise maritime industries by developing its shipyards and affiliated companies and establishing partnerships with the private sector to expand their activities and access international markets.
The authority has introduced additional maritime services for shipping lines and vessels transiting the canal, including shipbuilding and repair, marine fuel bunkering, marine ambulance services, and crew changes.
Rabie said recent disruptions in global trade have highlighted the importance of the Suez Canal to international supply chains, while stressing that navigation through the canal remains safe and operational.
The SCA is also expanding its activities beyond canal transit services through projects to develop maritime facilities in Arab and African countries.
Rabie pointed to the authority’s participation in the development of the Port of Sirte in Libya, which was reopened after 14 years of closure. The SCA’s Maritime Training and Simulation Academy has also developed a simulation model of Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al-Khair Port.
The authority is currently negotiating to develop simulation models for two ports in Namibia and provide training for local maritime pilots and tugboat captains through the academy.
The World Maritime Day event was attended by Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir, Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saeed, Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector head Hussein El-Geziry, Suez Canal Economic Zone Chairperson Mostafa Shikhoun, and Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport President Ismail Abdel Ghafar, along with officials and representatives from the regional maritime industry.
