Over 4,400 vessels have navigated the canal in the last four months; 229 vessels in October alone

 MSC has stated that it expects a "rapid return of southbound ships in the coming period," 

The Suez Canal Authority ( SCA ) has been recording the first significant increases in transit traffic since the start of the regional crisis in the Red Sea at the end of 2023 for several weeks now, and in October it achieved the highest average monthly growth rate in vessels returning to the waterway since the start of the war in the Middle East.

The news of this increase was given particular emphasis during a meeting with representatives of 20 leading shipping companies and maritime agencies hosted by Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, to discuss developments in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb area, which has recently become a dangerous area due to Houthi militia attacks.

Organizing Periodic Meetings 

 The Authority is organizing periodic meetings which, he said, serve to "consult navigation plans and schedules for the coming period." Rabiee, in fact, "invited" shipping companies to at least conduct trial voyages to test the newfound safety of that stretch of water following the truce reached between Hamas and Israel.

Between July and October

Between July and October, the Suez Canal Authority reports that tonnage transiting the waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean increased by 10% compared to last year. The recovery in vessel numbers, however, remained modest, with an increase of just 2%, but this suggests that larger vessels are choosing to return to transiting the Suez Canal compared to last year. Over 4,400 vessels have navigated the canal in the last four months; 229 vessels in October alone

The French shipping line CMA CGM

Echoing a recent news story, the Egyptian Authority highlighted how the French shipping line CMA CGM, which in the past two years has frequently sent its "smaller" ships through the Red Sea under the escort of the EUNAVFOR Aspides mission, recently chose to test the Suez Canal transit with an ultra-large containership, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, with a capacity of nearly 18,000 TEU. Now, the company is just waiting to direct its latest-generation 23,000 TEU ships through the canal instead of circumnavigating Africa.

 MSC ,Evergreen and Cosco rapid return

CMA CGM has announced its intention to proceed in that direction, as have other carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd, who have similarly stated that they are monitoring developments before making a decision. MSC has stated that it expects a "rapid return of southbound ships in the coming period," Evergreen has stated that it is ready to resume operations as soon as the situation stabilizes completely and definitively, and Cosco also expects that many shipping lines will reroute ships through the canal once stability returns.

Related : Suez Canal : The transit of the container ship CMA CGM ZEPHYR

The main obstacles

Also at the meeting in Egypt, a representative of the shipping agency Inchcape emphasized that one of the main obstacles to the return of ships to the Red Sea remains the war risk insurance required until the region is stabilized. Abdel Aziz Nabil told the meeting that the high cost of marine insurance for transiting the region remains a significant obstacle and the main reason for the delay in the resumption of operations on the Suez Canal by many shipping companies.

The risk of a collapse in ocean freight rates

Another unspoken but evident factor is the risk of a collapse in ocean freight rates for container shipments. Maritime carriers are trying to avoid this risk, or at least postpone it as much as possible, by delaying a return to transits via the Suez Canal. Compared to the alternative of circumnavigating Africa on routes between Asia and Europe, this would mean a drastic reduction in the ton-mile index and therefore a greater supply of cargo, with consequent downward pressure on sea freight prices.

No truth to the Suez Canal Authority's detention of the vessel DIGNITY

On the other hand SCA denies any connection to the legal dispute between Sphinx Shipping Agency and the vessel's owning company, which stems from the owning company's failure to pay financial dues owed to the shipping agency.In response to circulating news reports regarding the Suez Canal Authority's detention of the vessel "DIGNITY" at the Suez Port anchorage, the Suez Canal Authority confirms that this matter is completely and entirely untrue. 

Judicial order No. 45 of 2025 by the Ismailia Economic Court

This dispute resulted in the issuance of judicial order No. 45 of 2025 by the Ismailia Economic Court, imposing a conservatory attachment on the vessel and ordering its detention at the Suez Port anchorage until the outstanding dues are paid in full.
The Suez Canal Authority calls on media outlets to seek accuracy and to disregard rumors aimed at stirring confusion and sowing doubt. SCA stresses the necessity of verifying the accuracy of any news being circulated about the Suez Canal and of obtaining correct information from SCA official sources.

Different Sources

Ismailia Economic Court , SCA , SCA official sources , transit traffic , Red Sea crisis , ocean freight rates , CMA CGA , Evergreen , COSCO ,  Hapag-Lloyd, , risk insurance ,Admiral Ossama Rabiee,