Suez Canal introduces two-way traffic after successful trial run

With the introduction of two-way traffic in the southern segment of the Suez Canal, the logistics world has reached an important milestone. This new 10-kilometer section of canal, completed in the Small Bitter Lakes area, marks a significant step in improving flow and safety in one of the world's busiest waterways. The successful trial runs of the bulk carriers Fu Xing Hai and Suvari Bey demonstrate the potential of this expansion, which simultaneously allowed four other vessels to pass through the original canal.

Improved flow

The Suez Canal has been a crucial link in global supply chains for decades, and the expansion will further improve the efficiency of maritime transport. The increased capacity-expected to allow six to eight additional ships to pass through per day-will allow us as a company to benefit from shorter waiting times and faster flow of goods.

Ossama Rabiee, director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), emphasizes that these modifications not only increase capacity but also improve safety. The new canal section reduces the impact of water and wind currents on ships, which lowers the risk of incidents. For us, this means that customer deliveries can be made even more reliably and efficiently.

The strategic importance to our customers

This development aligns perfectly with our mission as a company to organize logistics without worry. With global customers in various sectors, including retail, automotive, and food & beverage, a more efficient Suez Canal will have a direct positive impact on lead times and costs in the supply chain. The 2021 Ever Given incident, which blocked the canal for six days, underscored the need for improvements. We can now support our customers even better by taking advantage of this new infrastructure.

Challenges and future prospects

While the expansion presents opportunities, the canal is not without its challenges. The SCA has recently faced declining revenues, in part due to ships avoiding the canal because of safety situations in the Red Sea.

The new opportunities in the Suez Canal reaffirm that innovation and adaptability are essential to best serve customers worldwide.