Recently, the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) located east of Port Said, Egypt, officially commissioned its major expansion project. This upgrade adds an annual handling capacity of 2.2 million TEUs to the terminal, increasing its total throughput capacity to 7 million TEUs.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended the inauguration ceremony for this upgrade project, which cost approximately $500 million. Specifically, the expansion includes the addition of 955 meters of quay line, 510,000 square meters of yard space, 12 quay cranes, 30 electric rubber-tired gantry cranes, and over 90 container trucks, along with other supporting facilities.
This expansion represents a major infrastructure investment in the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most strategic maritime passages. It is understood that the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) is one of the eight key hub terminals selected by APM Terminals, part of the Maersk Group, forming a core pillar of the east-west route network jointly operated by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.
Lars Mikael Jensen, Head of Hub & Ocean Collaboration at APM Terminals, stated: “We are extremely proud to deliver on our commitment to Egypt and of our partners and the people in the terminal who pursue excellence every day. The Suez Canal Container Terminal operates at a world-class level and is a core component of our global network.”
Public information indicates that the project prioritized sustainability, deploying not only electric rubber-tired gantry cranes but also investing in battery-electric container handling equipment, renewable energy, and energy efficiency technologies. APM Terminals aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
In addition to the infrastructure upgrades, this expansion has created over 1,000 new jobs, supporting long-term economic growth in the region.
Keld Mosgaard Christensen, General Manager of the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT), expressed gratitude for the support from the Egyptian government: “We sincerely thank President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and all the ministers, regulatory bodies, and partners who supported this achievement. This expansion will further enhance trade opportunities for Egypt and the wider region.”
It is noteworthy that the terminal’s operational performance has been recognized by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. In 2024, the Port of Said and the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) were ranked as the third most efficient container port globally and the top performer in the region.
Furthermore, the terminal has already adopted advanced digital planning tools, including a “digital twin,” to optimize operational processes and ensure schedule reliability across the entire route network.
