Egypt: Suez Canal revenues rise in the second quarter of 2026

The Suez Canal, a maritime artery linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and historically used by about 12% of global trade, has faced a major crisis since late 2023: Houthi rebel attacks on merchant traffic in the Red Sea have pushed many shipowners to bypass the route via the Cape of Good Hope, depriving Egypt of billions of dollars in foreign exchange revenues—a crucial resource for a country facing persistent pressure on its balance of payments and currency. According to the headline in Financial Afrik, canal revenues reportedly increased in the second quarter of 2026, which, if confirmed, would mark a milestone in the normalization of regional maritime traffic. However, the detailed content of the article, including precise figures, statements from Suez Canal Authority (SCA) officials, and comparisons with previous quarters, is not accessible in the consulted source, which is reserved for subscribers. For Egypt, any sustainable recovery in canal revenues would be a positive signal for its foreign exchange reserves and its ability to service its external debt. It remains to be seen to what extent this increase reflects an actual return of large container ships to the Red Sea or other factors, a question that only reading the full original article could resolve.