Large container-vessel transits rose from 16 to 166 in the third quarter, signalling renewed use of the waterway as the French shipping group expands its return to the Suez route.
ISMAILIA — The Suez Canal recorded a more than tenfold increase in transits by medium and large container ships during the third quarter of 2026, strengthening signs of a recovery in major shipping services as French carrier CMA CGM moves to restore the waterway as a regular route for international trade.
According to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), 166 container vessels in the specified size categories crossed between July and September, compared with just 16 during the same period in 2025. Their combined Suez Canal net tonnage rose from 2.4 million to 29 million tonnes, an increase of approximately 1,108%. The figures cover the reported vessel categories rather than total canal traffic.
The figures were announced on Tuesday during talks between SCA Chairman Osama Rabie, CMA CGM Executive Vice-President for Assets and Operations Christine Cabau, and the group’s chief executive for Egypt and Sudan, Tarek Zaghloul. The discussions focused on expanding the French carrier’s use of the canal and encouraging the wider return of international shipping services.
The recovery follows prolonged disruption to Red Sea shipping after attacks on commercial vessels prompted major operators to divert services around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. The alternative route adds substantial sailing distance between Asia and Europe, increasing fuel consumption, voyage times and vessel deployment requirements.
CMA CGM has progressively expanded its use of Suez during 2026. The CMA CGM Grand Palais crossed in May, followed by the CMA CGM Vendome and CMA CGM Notre Dame in June. By August, the SCA reported that 199 vessels belonging to the French group had transited the canal since the beginning of the year, with combined net tonnage of 25.2 million tonnes.
In September, Zaghloul reported that 60 CMA CGM vessels had used the canal during that month alone, providing further evidence of the group’s expanding operations through the waterway.
The commercial case for returning is particularly strong for large container vessels. By reducing voyage distances compared with the Cape route, Suez can lower fuel and operating costs while allowing shipping companies to maintain regular services with fewer vessels. These advantages are particularly significant for operators seeking to maximise the economies of scale offered by high-capacity container ships.
Rabie said the canal could accommodate the entire global container fleet and was strengthening its maritime and logistics services to preserve its competitive position. He also highlighted pressure on global supply chains from higher fuel prices and freight costs.
Cabau reaffirmed CMA CGM’s longstanding partnership with the SCA and said the group was continuing to restore its services through the canal as a permanent and sustainable shipping route. The commitment signals the company’s preferred direction, although the pace of wider service restoration will remain dependent on operating conditions and maritime security.
Tuesday’s developments coincided with the maiden Suez transit of the giant CMA CGM Pantheon, travelling from Morocco to Malaysia with a reported canal net tonnage of 221,000 tonnes. The CMA CGM Monte Cristi also crossed the waterway during the same northbound convoy.
For Egypt, the return of high-capacity vessels is economically significant. Canal tolls are a major source of foreign currency, while recovering shipping activity can support port operations, bunkering, logistics and maritime services.
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