Suez Canal Expansion to Increase Two-Way Section by 10km

United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) approaches the Friendship Bridge during a Suez Canal transit in this picture taken April 2, 2021 and released by US Navy on April 3, 2021. (Reuters)
United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) approaches the Friendship Bridge during a Suez Canal transit in this picture taken April 2, 2021 and released by US Navy on April 3, 2021. (Reuters)
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Suez Canal Expansion to Increase Two-Way Section by 10km

United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) approaches the Friendship Bridge during a Suez Canal transit in this picture taken April 2, 2021 and released by US Navy on April 3, 2021. (Reuters)
United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) approaches the Friendship Bridge during a Suez Canal transit in this picture taken April 2, 2021 and released by US Navy on April 3, 2021. (Reuters)

Works are under way to expand the two-way section of the Suez canal to 82 km (51 miles) from 72 km, the chairman of the authority managing the Egyptian waterway said on Tuesday.

Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie told a news conference that it would be too expensive to expand the entire waterway that links the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, Reuters reported.

Global shipping traffic was badly disrupted last year when when one of the world's largest container ships got stuck in the southern section of the 190 km canal for about a week.



Mawani Reports Significant Cargo Growth at Saudi Ports in September 2024

Mawani Reports Significant Cargo Growth at Saudi Ports in September 2024
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Mawani Reports Significant Cargo Growth at Saudi Ports in September 2024

Mawani Reports Significant Cargo Growth at Saudi Ports in September 2024

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has reported a 7.82% surge in the total cargo tonnage handled at its ports in September 2024, hitting 28,097,022 tons, up from 26,058,554 tons in the same period in 2023.
According to Mawani, export containers saw a 9% rise, reaching 255,606 TEUs, while the figure stood at 234,663 TEUs in September 2023.

Similarly, import containers rose by 18% to 258,007 TEUs, a noticeable increase from 217,933 TEUs the preceding year, SPA reported.
The total general cargo stood at 975,406 tons, bulk solid cargo at 4,473,019 tons, and bulk liquid cargo at 15,277,608 tons. Livestock arrivals saw a 35.58% decline, with 343,952 heads of livestock received, compared to 533,948 in September 2023.
The total number of containers handled amounted to 673,124 TEUs, reflecting an 8.08% decrease compared to the 732,319 TEUs handled the previous year. Transhipment containers decreased by 42.98%, down to 159,511 TEUs from 279,723 TEUs in 2023.
Shipping traffic dropped by 5.18%, to 988 ships from 1,042 ships in 2023. The number of passengers fell by 39.46%, with 44,166 passengers recorded this September, compared to 72,956 passengers the previous year. Notably, the shipment of cars saw an increase of 10.51%, the number reaching 98,087, while it stood at 88,755 in 2023.
Mawani had reported a 26.57% increase in cargo tonnage for August 2024. Exported containers grew by 18.76%, reaching 258,955 TEUs, over the corresponding period in 2023.
These results support the National Transport and Logistics Strategy of consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub.