Adm. Rabiee: "The Suez Canal holds a strategic significance for containerized trade due to the operational savings it achieves and its promotion of the concept of economies of scale."
Transit of 166 medium-sized and mega vessels at a total net tonnages of 29 million tons during the past 3 months
CMA CGM's Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations: "The group continues to resume its maritime services through the Canal as a durable and sustainable passage."
Transit of the mega container ship CMA CGM PANTHEON through the Suez Canal on its maiden voyage
Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, met today with Ms. Christine Cabau, CMA CGM Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations, and Mr. Tariq Zaghloul, CMA CGM Egypt and Sudan Cluster CEO, via video conference.
This is a continuation of the series of periodical meetings held between both parties in light of consultations to follow-up on the French Group's naviagtion policies through the Suez Canal, as well as discussions on ways of bolstering joint cooperation and encouraging international shipping lines to make a full return to the Suez Canal.
At the outset of the meeting, Adm. Rabiee emphasized the strategic importance of the Suez Canal to containerized trade, highlighting the operational savings it delivers through reduced transit times and distances, as well as the Canal's contribution to enhancing economies of scale for container vessels; H.E. noted in this regard that the Canal is capable of accommodating 100% of the global fleet of container ships.
The SCA Chairman pointed out the mounting pressure that current challenges place on global supply chains, with direct repercussions on fuel prices and freight rates. H.E. reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to supporting its clients by providing an integrated package of maritime and logistical services, thereby maintaining its status as the fastest, shortest, most efficient, and most sustainable shipping route.
Admiral Rabiee further pointed out that navigation statistics indicated a rise in transit rates of container vessels, specifically within the medium and mega vessel categories (exceeding 130,000 tons), with 166 such vessels transiting through the Canal between July and September 2026, totaling 29 million tons in net tonnage; this contrasts with the transit of only 16 vessels of these categories, totaling 2.4 million tons in net tonnage, during the same period during the previous year.
On her part, Ms. Christine Cabau, CMA CGM Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations, expressed her pride in the long-standing strategic partnership with the Suez Canal Authority.
She also noted that the company is resuming its maritime operations through the Suez Canal as a permanent and sustainable route, and looks forward to strengthening future cooperation.
Notably, the Suez Canal witnessed the transit of the mega container ship CMA CGM PANTHEON on Tuesday, marking its maiden voyage through the Canal amongst vessels of the north convoy. The ship was traveling from Morocco to Malaysia, at a net Suez Canal tonnage of 221,000 tons. Another container ship, CMA CGM MONTE CRISTO, also transited the Canal as part of the same convoy.