As ship transits gradually rebound from the Suez Canal and the first signs of stabilization in the maritime area of the Red Sea become visible, the port of Piraeus is re-emerging as a pivotal entry and transshipment point for cargo destined for the European hinterland.
The prospect of a normalization of maritime flows between Asia and Europe strengthens its position as a strategic maritime hub of the Eastern Mediterranean, however, this optimism is overshadowed by the resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia, which revives concerns for the safety of ships in the Indian Ocean.
Although the attacks by Somali pirates have a limited and indirect impact on transits via Suez, in contrast to the strong impact of the Houthis, they nevertheless create a climate of uncertainty, at a time when global shipping is attempting to regain its stability and redefine the flows of international trade.
-A vote of confidence from the Suez Canal-
In a meeting held by Admiral Ossama Rabiee, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority SCA, in Ismailia with representatives from 20 shipping companies and agencies, in the presence of the deputy chairman Rear Admiral Ashraf Atwa and members of the board of directors, he said that in the period July – October 2025, 4,405 ship transits with a total capacity of 185 million tons were recorded, compared to 4,332 ships and 167.6 million tons in the same period last year.
He noted that in October 2025 alone, 229 ships returned, the highest level since the beginning of the crisis.
-Major shipping companies consider a return to the Canal-
In a summary of the meeting, the chairman of the board of the shipbroking company Clarkson, praised the efforts of the Suez Canal Authority to maintain regular communication with all shipping companies and the interested bodies of the shipping community. He suggested studying the possibility of offering incentives linked to the number and capacity of ships, in order to encourage their transit through the Canal, predicting significant progress at the beginning of next year, God willing.
The representative of the shipping company Maersk, confirmed the group’s commitment to increase its investments in Egypt, given the unlimited support from the political leadership. He noted the constructive meeting between the group’s chairman, Mr. Robert Uggla, and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi last month.
The representative of Gulf Agency, a provider of shipping and logistics services, stressed the need for coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to clarify the positive developments in the area of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb and to convey them to the international shipping community as direct messages of reassurance.
