Egypt has successfully completed a trial run on a newly constructed 10-kilometer stretch of the Suez Canal’s two-way section, aimed at enhancing traffic flow and preventing future disruptions. The Suez Canal Authority announced on Saturday that two ships passed through the expanded channel without incident.
This expansion comes in response to the 2021 Ever Given crisis, where a grounded container ship blocked the critical waterway for six days. In the aftermath, Egypt accelerated plans to extend and widen the southern section of the canal to improve capacity and emergency response capabilities.
Despite this achievement, the Suez Canal has faced a sharp decline in revenue due to persistent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi militants, who claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi revealed on Thursday that the country has lost approximately $7 billion in Suez Canal revenue in 2024—a drop exceeding 60% compared to 2023 figures—due to ongoing regional instability.
With this latest expansion, the total length of the Suez Canal’s two-way section now stands at 82 kilometers, up from 72 kilometers, within the canal’s overall 193-kilometer length. The Suez Canal Authority stated that the upgrade will allow an additional 6 to 8 ships to pass daily and bolster the waterway’s capacity to manage emergencies effectively.
Egypt is also reportedly considering further expansion projects to ensure the canal remains a vital global trade artery amid growing regional uncertainties.
