Suez Canal Passage

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 22 November 2025

Source: https://www.suezcanal.gov.eg

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Definition & Explanation

The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, shortening the maritime route between Europe and Asia by several thousand kilometres. Without it, vessels must sail around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to voyage times and substantially raising fuel costs. Container lines, tanker operators, and bulk carriers all depend on the canal as a core waypoint on east–west trade lanes. Transit tolls are set and collected by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) based on vessel type, gross tonnage, and cargo carried. Disruptions – from groundings to Red Sea security incidents – ripple instantly through global supply chains and spot freight markets, as events in recent years have made plain.

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The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean at Port Said with the Red Sea at Suez, making it the shortest sea route between Europe and …

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When the Suez Canal becomes congested due to heavy traffic, incidents, or poor visibility, bottlenecks form that force thousands o…

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Related Terms

Suez Canal

Suez Canal Fee