Suez Canal sees Maersk voyages rise to 276 in first 9 months of 2026

Egypt’s Suez Canal recorded 276 voyages by Maersk Group vessels, with a total net tonnage of 23.3 million tons, from January through September 2026, up from 146 voyages with a combined net tonnage of 7 million tons during the same period last year.

Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), discussed accelerating the return of Maersk’s shipping services through the canal during a videoconference meeting with Rabab Boulos, Chief Operating Officer and member of the Executive Board of A.P. Moller-Maersk.

Boulos expressed her hope that all of the group’s shipping services would return to transiting the Suez Canal by March 2027, describing the waterway as the group’s optimal choice given their strategic partnership.

Rabie said the canal was witnessing a tangible return of Maersk’s shipping services, reflecting the longstanding relationship between the two sides.

He added that geopolitical developments and their impact on fuel prices and freight rates had underscored the canal’s strategic importance and the economic savings it offers large container ships compared with sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. He also highlighted its higher level of navigational safety.

Ahmed Hassan, Vice President of Operations at A.P. Moller-Maersk, said the group would continue updating its sailing schedules to facilitate the return of more shipping services through the canal.

Meanwhile, Hany El-Nady, the group’s representative in the Middle East and North Africa, said Maersk was working to accelerate the return of all its shipping services to the Suez Canal.