Sudden!Suez Canal suddenly imposes surcharge, up to 37%!Will global shipping costs be pushed up
- Author:Maintenance network
- Source:Maintenance network
- Release Date:2026-06-24
Recently, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) issued the latest Navigation Circular, announcing that it will increase the temporary surcharge (Surcharge) for most ship types starting from July 15, 2026.According to the announcement, the new surcharge will be levied in addition to the existing canal tolls and will apply to ships passing through the Suez Canal starting from July 15.The Suez Canal Authority stated that this adjustment was based on the current international shipping market situation. The relevant surcharges are temporary measures and will be adjusted or canceled based on market changes in the future.
Increase in surcharges for multiple types of ships. According to the latest charging standards, the surcharges for each ship type are adjusted as follows: Container ship surcharges remain at 12%, and an additional levy is levied on the basis of normal canal tolls. Dry bulk carriers are raised from 10% to 22%. Crude oil and product oil tankers are raised from 25% to 37%. Empty oil tankers are raised from 15% to 27%. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and chemical tankers are raised.Academic ships were raised from 20% to 32%. Liquefied natural gas carriers (LNG) were raised from 7% to 19%. Car carriers sailing northbound: raised from 14% to 26%. Southbound sailing: maintained at 12%. General cargo ships, multi-purpose ships, ro-ro ships, heavy-lift ships, etc. were raised from 14% to 26%. Currently, passenger ships are the only ship type not affected by this surcharge adjustment.Canal traffic has rebounded. In recent years, affected by the security situation in the Red Sea, a large number of shipping companies have chosen to bypass the Cape of Good Hope. Both the traffic volume and revenue of the Suez Canal have been significantly affected.However, since 2026, the canal ship traffic situation has improved.According to Egyptian official statistics, a total of 1,182 ships passed through the Suez Canal in April 2026, a year-on-year increase of 13.9%; including 529 oil tankers, a year-on-year increase of 27.8%.During the same period, toll revenue from ships passing through the Suez Canal was approximately US$425 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 30%, setting a high level since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis.
Pressure still remains on the recovery of canal revenue. Although traffic volume has rebounded recently, the overall navigation scale of the Suez Canal is still at a lower level than before the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis.Market analysts believe that as some oil tankers and energy carriers re-choose the Suez route and the shipping pattern in the Middle East changes, Egypt is trying to find a balance between restoring canal revenue and maintaining route competitiveness by adjusting the charging mechanism.At the same time, the Suez Canal Authority emphasized that this surcharge adjustment does not affect the basic toll standards.The basic rate system currently in place has not been adjusted since 2024.
Industry observation
For shipping companies, this surcharge adjustment will directly push up the cost of voyages through the Suez Canal, especially oil tankers, LNG ships, LPG ships and dry bulk carriers.The current security risks of the Red Sea route, war insurance premiums and fuel costs are still at high levels. As the Suez Canal further increases the surcharge, the comprehensive operating costs of the Asia-Europe route and energy transportation market may continue to be under pressure in the future.Cargo owners and logistics companies need to pay attention to whether shipping companies will adjust surcharge items and related freight policies in the future.
Increase in surcharges for multiple types of ships. According to the latest charging standards, the surcharges for each ship type are adjusted as follows: Container ship surcharges remain at 12%, and an additional levy is levied on the basis of normal canal tolls. Dry bulk carriers are raised from 10% to 22%. Crude oil and product oil tankers are raised from 25% to 37%. Empty oil tankers are raised from 15% to 27%. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and chemical tankers are raised.Academic ships were raised from 20% to 32%. Liquefied natural gas carriers (LNG) were raised from 7% to 19%. Car carriers sailing northbound: raised from 14% to 26%. Southbound sailing: maintained at 12%. General cargo ships, multi-purpose ships, ro-ro ships, heavy-lift ships, etc. were raised from 14% to 26%. Currently, passenger ships are the only ship type not affected by this surcharge adjustment.Canal traffic has rebounded. In recent years, affected by the security situation in the Red Sea, a large number of shipping companies have chosen to bypass the Cape of Good Hope. Both the traffic volume and revenue of the Suez Canal have been significantly affected.However, since 2026, the canal ship traffic situation has improved.According to Egyptian official statistics, a total of 1,182 ships passed through the Suez Canal in April 2026, a year-on-year increase of 13.9%; including 529 oil tankers, a year-on-year increase of 27.8%.During the same period, toll revenue from ships passing through the Suez Canal was approximately US$425 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 30%, setting a high level since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis.
Pressure still remains on the recovery of canal revenue. Although traffic volume has rebounded recently, the overall navigation scale of the Suez Canal is still at a lower level than before the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis.Market analysts believe that as some oil tankers and energy carriers re-choose the Suez route and the shipping pattern in the Middle East changes, Egypt is trying to find a balance between restoring canal revenue and maintaining route competitiveness by adjusting the charging mechanism.At the same time, the Suez Canal Authority emphasized that this surcharge adjustment does not affect the basic toll standards.The basic rate system currently in place has not been adjusted since 2024.
Industry observation
For shipping companies, this surcharge adjustment will directly push up the cost of voyages through the Suez Canal, especially oil tankers, LNG ships, LPG ships and dry bulk carriers.The current security risks of the Red Sea route, war insurance premiums and fuel costs are still at high levels. As the Suez Canal further increases the surcharge, the comprehensive operating costs of the Asia-Europe route and energy transportation market may continue to be under pressure in the future.Cargo owners and logistics companies need to pay attention to whether shipping companies will adjust surcharge items and related freight policies in the future.