CMA CGM renews Suez Canal commitment as vessel transits jump in 2026
Published By Arab Hub Post Staff
CMA CGM reaffirms Suez Canal route
In Egypt, French shipping group CMA CGM is continuing the return of its shipping services through the Suez Canal as a permanent and sustainable route, said Christine Cabau, the company’s Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations, on Tuesday.
The statement came during a videoconference meeting with Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie and Tarek Zaghloul, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM in Egypt and Sudan, to review the French group’s sailing policies and urge global shipping lines to make a full return to the waterway.
Transit growth reported by Suez Canal Authority
During the meeting, Rabie reported an increase in the transit rates of medium and large container ships with capacities exceeding 130,000 tons.
Between July and September 2026, 166 vessels in these categories crossed the canal with a total net tonnage of 29m tons, compared to 16 ships with a total net tonnage of 2.4m tons during the same period a year earlier.
Rabie noted that current challenges are imposing increased pressure on global supply chains, directly reflecting on higher fuel prices and freight rates.
The SCA aims to support clients with an integrated package of maritime and logistics services to remain the fastest, shortest and most efficient route, he added.
Strategic importance and partnership outlook
Rabie said, “The Suez Canal holds strategic importance for container trade due to the operational savings it achieves in reducing time and distance, as well as its contribution to enhancing the concept of economies of scale for container ships,” noting that the canal is capable of accommodating 100% of the global container fleet.
Cabau noted her pride in the extended strategic partnership with the SCA and expressed her anticipation for strengthening future cooperation.
Recent vessel transits
On Tuesday, the giant container ship CMA CGM PANTHEON traversed the canal on its maiden voyage. The vessel, holding a net canal tonnage of 221,000 tons, sailed within the northbound convoy en route from Morocco to Malaysia.
The container ship CMA CGM MONTE CRISTI also transited the canal as part of the northbound convoy.
