Egypt raises Suez Canal transit tolls

Transit tolls have been increased for ships crossing the Suez Canal with some exceptions made, in an attempt by Egypt to up revenues. The new measures will begin next year

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

04 November, 2021

Nearly 17,000 boats have crossed the Suez Canal so far this year [Getty]

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority said Thursday it will hike transit tolls on the key waterway by six percent, after netting record revenues last tax year even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The new fees will come into place from February 2022, but tourist vessels and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers will be exempted, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie said in a statement.

In July, authorities said the canal had netted record revenues of $5.4 billion in the previous tax year, despite the coronavirus pandemic's impact on world trade, plus a six-day blockage by a giant cargo ship.

Straddling the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal accounts for roughly 10 percent of global maritime trade, and is a source of much-needed foreign currency for Egypt.

Nearly 17,000 boats have crossed the Suez Canal so far this year, according to the authority.

A huge container ship blocked the canal for six days in March this year causing interruption to global trade.