Egypt announced the successful testing of a new 10 km channel at the southern end of the Suez Canal, despite a drop in revenue due to Houthi militant attacks in the Red Sea.
The Suez Canal Authority reported that two ships safely navigated the new section of the two-way channel during a trial run.
Following the Ever Given blockage in 2021, Egypt fast-tracked efforts to extend the southern channel and widen the existing route.
Revenue from the canal, a critical link between Europe and Asia, has sharply declined since Houthi militants began attacking ships in the Red Sea in late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinian militants in Gaza.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi disclosed that regional challenges caused a $7 billion loss in Suez Canal revenue in 2024, a decline of over 60% compared to 2023.
The Suez Canal Authority revealed that the latest expansion extended the two-way section from 72 km to 82 km, with the canal now spanning a total of 193 km.
The authority noted that the expansion increases the canal’s capacity by 6 to 8 ships daily and strengthens its ability to manage emergencies.
Earlier this year, Egypt announced plans for an additional expansion project beyond the newly completed 10 km channel.
