Calendar year 2021 saw canal revenues hit a record US$6.3 billion, up 13% from US$5.6 billion seen in 2020.
The canal is the fastest route between Europe and Asia, and despite a 10% increase in toll rates implemented in March 2022, still saves shipping lines potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in time and fuel, compared to sailings around the Cape of Good Hope.
Asian ship owners have been among the most vocal to complain about the toll hike, in addition to tariff increases introduced at the beginning of February this year.
Seatrade Maritime News calculates a 9.4% rise in fees for
a southbound transit by a standard dry bulk vessel, as well as a similar
increase in rebate, as of today, as compared to rates in November 2020.
Egypt mobilized public support for a widely subscribed national public debt program to finance a US$8.5 billion canal expansion, finished in 2015. Completion of further works is expected next year.
With container shipping lines reporting profits of around US$190 billion last year, US$60 billion in the first quarter of 2022, Egypt can be expected to maintain the pressure on toll rates for some time to come.
Despite the fact that tourism flows to Egypt declined by 35% due to the Russian invitation of Ukraine, Maait expects tourism revenues to hover around US$12 billion by the end of the financial year.
The canal, as well as tourism receipts are important to Egypt’s GDP, which the International Monetary Fund expects to reach US$435.6 billion in nominal terms in 2022.
The Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) member hit out at recent proposed toll changes at both the Panama Canal and Suez Canal.
At a meeting on April 18, 2022, ASA delegates noted the significance of the Suez and Panama canals as critical global infrastructure and called for the canals to avoid “sudden and significant” changes in tolls and charges.
“Delegates expressed their confusion against new surcharges introduced on March 01, 2022 with only 48 hours prior notice, then to be revised on May 01, 2022 by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), which resulted in roughly a 7% to 20% toll increase for many types of vessels, in addition to a 6% tariff hike for most types of vessels, implemented on February 01, 2022,” said ASA.
Uncertainty around how surcharges operate could undermine the stability of the Canal, said the committee, calling for the industry to express its concerns to SCA.
ASA delegates some positives in the Panama Canal’s new toll system proposed earlier in April 2022 by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Delegates said the ACP had given sufficient notice and a formal consultation period, but were concerned that significant toll hikes could affect the long-term viability of the canal, “as the mark-up for some types of vessels may exceed 100% in 2025, compared with the current toll.”
The ASA meeting also discussed the review of anti-trust exemptions for carriers on the US, a policy delegates said was “indispensable for the healthy development of the liner shipping industry and the maintenance of a reliable service to the entire trading community.” ASA will continue its efforts to maintain anti-trust exemptions for liner shipping agreements.
