Egypt offers 15% fee cut on Suez Canal to lure back container traffic

Posted on May 20, 2025   |  

Egypt's Suez Canal will offer a 15% discount for three months on transit fees for containerships of 13,500 TEU capacity and above.

The discount aims to encourage shipping lines to resume using the route.

The Suez Canal Authority says the move responds to recent security improvements in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Over the past year, Suez Canal revenues have dropped by more than 50% due to ship diversions.

Many containerships avoided the canal because of Houthi attacks in support of Hamas, disrupting Red Sea shipping.

The U.S. President recently stated that the Red Sea crisis may be ending after a reported ceasefire agreement with the Houthis.

Oman’s foreign minister, a key mediator, has backed this claim, but Houthi missile attacks toward Israel have continued.

Major shipping liners remain cautious and have not resumed regular Red Sea transits yet.