"The Suez Canal Authority has a unique development experience in the Canal cities and extensive expertise both within Egypt and abroad," says Rabie.

  Ambassador of Zambia to Cairo said: "The Suez Canal is the ideal location for economic cooperation."

In August, carriers returned to the Suez route in greater numbers, with capacity increasing by 184% compared to 2025.

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), received a delegation of ambassadors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss potential areas of cooperation and expertise exchange in various fields of development. The meeting took place at the Authority's headquarters in the Guidance Building in Ismailiya Governorate

The delegation included ambassadors from ten African countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Mozambique and Tanzania.

The visit is part of the ongoing fruitful cooperation

The visit is part of the ongoing fruitful cooperation and coordination between the Suez Canal Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The visit aims to gain first-hand knowledge of the development opportunities offered by the canal projects and of pioneering experiences in training, fisheries development, marine vessel construction, maritime services, and other areas.

At the opening of the meeting,

At the opening of the meeting, Admiral Osama Rabie welcomed the Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegation of ambassadors and expressed his desire to establish cooperation with African countries in various areas of development.

Admiral Osama Rabie also mentioned the Authority's participation in several international projects. Most notably, the Authority was involved in the development and reopening of the Libyan port of Sirte, which had been closed for 14 years. The Authority also signed an agreement with the Namibian Ports Authority to cooperate in port modelling and technical training.

 Suez Canal is a cornerstone of Egypt's economic development 

For his part, Ambassador Major General Topley M. Lubaya, Ambassador of Zambia, expressed the delegation's eagerness to learn more about potential areas of cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), particularly in light of the Authority's existing partnerships with several member states, including Namibia and Zambia. He added that the Suez Canal is a cornerstone of Egypt's economic development and a vital global waterway and strategic artery, making it an ideal location for economic cooperation.

George Safwat, the official spokesperson for the Suez Canal, said this.

In August, carriers returned to the Suez route

On the other hand, although the number of vessels and their capacity remained well below pre-crisis levels, the return of container ships to the Suez route accelerated in July and August.

Data collected and processed by MDS Intermodal indicates that 1,186 container ships passed through the canal in the first eight months of 2026 — a figure that is roughly stable compared to the 1,230 recorded during the same period in 2025 — while total cargo capacity was 55% higher, reaching 7.2 million TEUs. This equates to an average of 6,000 TEUs per vessel, up from 3,800 TEUs (+60%).

It was the increase in capacity driven by August transits that was particularly notable. According to Mds Intermodal, 196 ships passed through the Suez Canal during the month — 36% more than in August 2023 — but the real difference lay in capacity, which surged by 184% to reach 1.68 million TEUs. The month also saw the passage of a 24,232-TEU vessel — the largest to transit since the crisis triggered by Houthi attacks began in November 2023.

#Namibian Ports Authority #Admiral Osama Rabie #Suez Canal # (SADC) Tanzanian Ambassador# Southern African Development Community ambassadors#MDS Intermodal #August transits