The Suez Canal reached a new milestone in restoring ship traffic volume in the third quarter of 2026. According to reports, container ship traffic during this period has significantly increased compared to 2025. This comes amid ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea.
Increase in Tanker and Container Ship Traffic
Published data shows that 166 medium-sized container ships (over 130,000 gross tons) and ultra-large vessels passed through the Suez Canal between July and September 2026. This number represents a significant increase compared to only 16 ships during the same period in 2025. Additionally, the total traffic volume of large vessels reached 29 million gross tons during this period, a remarkable figure compared to 2.4 million tons last year.
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Challenges and Opportunities for Shipping Lines
The head of the Suez Canal Authority, Admiral Osama Rabie, highlighted the strategic importance of this canal for container trade, stating that it plays a key role due to operational savings and enhanced economies of scale. He pointed to the increasing pressures on shipping lines due to rising fuel prices and escalating transportation rates. He also emphasized that the Suez Canal helps improve economies of scale for container ships by providing reduced transit times and shorter distances.
The Suez Canal Authority continues its efforts to attract more vessels and expects traffic volume to keep increasing. Companies such as CMA CGM have been at the forefront in this regard, with Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company also returning their ships to routes passing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
Specifically, on October 13, two large CMA CGM vessels were passing through the canal. The new CMA CGM Pantheon (weighing 233,559 tons), which was commissioned in July, was part of a convoy coming from the north towards the canal. This ship, with a capacity of 24,212 TEU and registered in France, was making its first passage through this canal.
The other vessel, CMA CGM Monte Cristo (weighing 158,064 tons), was also part of this convoy. This ship, which was commissioned earlier this year and registered in Malta, was heading towards Port Klang, Malaysia, with a capacity of 16,204 TEU.
Drewry analysts released a new analysis of the Suez Canal's status earlier this month, examining the reasons for shipping lines' return to this route. They noted that the fundamental threats that caused shipping lines to exit this route have not disappeared, and particularly with recent Houthi attacks and intense conflicts near Bab el-Mandeb, the risks may have increased.
Drewry's analysis indicated that the financial benefits of returning to the Suez Canal route are very limited, with this advantage amounting to only about $43 per slot and nearly one million dollars per round trip, excluding war risk premiums.
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