For vessels transiting the Suez Canal, surcharges will generally increase by 12%.
Recently, the Suez Canal Authority announced new transit surcharge standards, with most vessel types seeing a 12% increase, meaning an additional 12% of the canal transit fee will be paid on top of the existing canal transit fees and surcharges. The new standards will take effect from July 15, 2026.
The Suez Canal Authority stated that these surcharges are temporary and will be adjusted or cancelled based on actual market conditions. Specifically:
– Container ships will continue to pay a 12% surcharge.
– The surcharge for dry bulk carriers will increase from 10% to 22%.
– The surcharge for laden crude oil tankers and product tankers will increase from 25% to 37%; the surcharge for ballast tankers will increase from 15% to 27%.
– For car carriers, fees vary by direction. Among them, the surcharge for northbound vessels will increase from 14% to 26%; the surcharge for southbound vessels remains at 12%.
– The surcharge for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers and chemical tankers will increase from 20% to 32%.
– The surcharge for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers will increase from 7% to 19%.
– The surcharge for other general cargo ships, multi-purpose vessels, /roll-off ships, heavy lift vessels, etc., will increase from 14% to 26%.
In recent years, due to attacks on merchant ships by the Yemeni Houthi group in the Red Sea region, vessels have been making large-scale detours around the Cape of Good Hope to ensure transport safety, leading to a significant decline in Suez Canal traffic.
However, since the outbreak of the US-Iran war in 2026, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has been obstructed, causing vessels to shift en masse to alternative routes such as the Red Sea, indirectly boosting traffic through the Suez Canal.
According to data released by the Egyptian National Statistics Bureau, in April 2026, the total number of various vessels transiting the Suez Canal was 1,182, a year-on-year increase of 14%. Among them, approximately 529 oil tankers passed through the Suez Canal, a sharp year-on-year increase of 28%.
In that month, the Suez Canal also generated revenue of approximately $419 million, a year-on-year increase of 27%, the highest monthly revenue since the beginning of 2024.
