The Egyptian Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is endeavouring to resume shipping traffic through its waterway after revenues - and thus the contribution to the state budget - had been steadily declining.

At a meeting with the Danish ambassador and a high-ranking delegation, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority emphasised the long-standing relationship with Maersk and spoke about the latest developments in the Red Sea region. He called on the shipping company to "take the initiative and gradually resume shipping traffic through the Suez Canal".

According to the report, the Danish ambassador visited the Suez Canal for the first time to discuss the possibilities for future cooperation and described the return to the Suez Canal as "inevitable". He emphasised that this canal is a crucial hub for global trade.

The shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk (APM) has been operating its own terminal at the northern end of the Suez Canal for a long time. APM wants to improve the competitiveness of the port of East Port Said by expanding the container terminal. However, following several incidents in 2023 and 2024, Maersk was not the only company to reroute its ships around the Cape of Good Hope.

The Suez Canal Authority has now had several meetings with representatives of the major shipping companies to reactivate the passage through the Suez Canal. Since the Houthi militias sank two bulk carriers in July and recently damaged a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, the major shipping companies remain cautious and are postponing the return to the route through the Suez Canal. As a result, the Suez Canal's revenue for the 2024/2025 financial year fell by over 45 per cent. According to Statista, the number of transits halved compared to 2023 to around 13,200 ships.

On Thursday, 16 October 2025, the Bundestag extended the deployment of the German Armed Forces in the Red Sea by one year. Germany will thus continue to participate in the EU-led EUNAVFOR Aspides protection mission to defend against attacks by Houthi militias on shipping. But even if the protection mission in the Red Sea is continued, the shipping company Maersk remains on hold and explained that a return is possible if it is convinced of increased stability in the region. That will probably take some time.

kdk, The Maritime Executive