Egypt has climbed three places in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, securing the 19th position worldwide in the second quarter of 2025, compared with 22nd place in the previous quarter.

The improvement highlights the strong operational performance of the Suez Canal this year, despite mounting geopolitical pressures in the Red Sea. The canal has continued to handle high-capacity vessels while enhancing Egypt’s global maritime reputation.

The Cabinet’s Media Center released a series of infographics that underlined the Suez Canal’s resilience and progress amid turbulent regional conditions. The data indicated a significant recovery and development in canal operations, which remain crucial to global trade.

In the first half of 2025, 661 ships diverted from the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal, leading to a 3.1% increase in traffic. Cargo volumes also registered strong growth, with total tonnage climbing 6% in the second quarter to 122.5 million tons, compared with 115.6 million tons in the first quarter.

This increase in transits drove canal revenues to $975.8 million in Q2, representing an 8.3% gain over the previous quarter. Several high-profile passages highlighted the canal’s growing capacity, including the rig ADMARINE260 in February, the oil tanker CHRYSALIS on its first voyage since July 2024, and the massive 180,000-ton container ship CMA CGM JULES VERNE in June.

Expansion And Modernization Boost Canal Capacity

Infrastructure upgrades have been crucial to these results. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) recently completed a major expansion of the canal’s southern section, boosting capacity by six to eight additional vessels while enhancing navigational safety by 28%. The project also reduced the impact of strong water currents on transiting ships.

The modernization drive has not stopped there. By April 2025, the SCA had expanded its support fleet with 24 new marine units. It also rolled out a suite of new services such as ship waste removal, maritime ambulance operations, pollution response, ship maintenance, refueling, and crew transfer. These steps form part of the authority’s wider ambition to transform the canal into a “green” waterway by 2030.

To strengthen its competitiveness and attract more shipping lines back to the Red Sea, the SCA launched a promotional campaign in May 2025. The initiative offers container vessels with a net tonnage above 130,000 tons a 15% discount on transit fees. The offer will remain valid until December 31, 2025.

According to Lloyd’s List, these measures are part of a calculated strategy to restore the Suez Canal’s share of global shipping traffic following recent instability in the region. Offshore Energy further reported that the canal has shown remarkable resilience over the past two years, maintaining operations despite attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. This resilience, it noted, underscores the canal’s position as one of the most critical arteries of global trade.

Egypt’s rise in the UNCTAD index reflects the effectiveness of these ongoing efforts. With infrastructure expansion, green initiatives, and targeted incentives, the Suez Canal is not only weathering regional challenges but also positioning itself as a stronger and more sustainable hub in international maritime logistics.