Container volumes moving through the Suez Canal climbed by 54% during the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to analysis firm Alphaliner, as reported by ShippingWatch.
The increase reflects a combination of factors, Alphaliner notes. Part of the jump is due to a low comparison base, following periodic improvements in the security situation in the Middle East. The research firm also points to a significant contribution from larger vessels with greater cargo capacity now transiting the waterway.
Volume Figures From Egyptian Authorities
Citing data from Egypt’s local canal authorities, Alphaliner reports that a total of 72.1 million tonnes passed through the Suez Canal through the end of August this year. That figure compares with 46.7 million tonnes recorded over the same eight-month period in 2025, according to the analysis firm’s weekly newsletter.
Alphaliner also notes that all five of the world’s largest container shipping lines have now resumed sailings through the canal, a milestone in the route’s gradual recovery.
Traffic Still Below Historical Levels
Despite the sharp year-on-year increase, Alphaliner cautions that overall freight volumes through the Suez Canal remain well below the historical average. Traffic through the waterway dropped significantly starting in 2023, when Yemen’s Houthi movement began attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea, prompting many carriers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope.
Does This Matter to You?
The partial recovery of Suez Canal traffic carries implications for parties involved in vessel routing, transit planning, and fuel procurement along major East-West trade lanes. As more container lines resume Red Sea transits, bunkering demand patterns along the Suez corridor and alternative routes around Africa may continue to shift.
The return of all five major container carriers to the canal, as noted by Alphaliner, suggests that confidence in the route is gradually being restored, though the source material does not specify a timeline for a full return to pre-2023 volumes. The direct operational impact on specific bunkering or trading decisions is not detailed in the available reporting.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: ShippingWatch, Alphaliner
