The Suez Canal is poised for a 20 percent rebound in car carrier traffic in the second half of 2025 as major shipping lines return to the waterway despite Red Sea risks, the canal authority head said Tuesday. Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie said the canal is showing signs of recovery in roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic despite ongoing regional challenges, with several shipping lines resuming operations through the vital waterway. He noted that the number of voyages by China's BYD line is expected to increase, while COSCO has resumed crossings through the canal as part of a joint service with Greece-based Neptune Lines linking East Asia and the Mediterranean. In addition, United Global Ro-Ro, a Turkish operator, has completed two transits under a new service launched in February connecting ports in the Far East with destinations in the Mediterranean and Northwestern Europe. "The return of car carriers to the Suez Canal is a message of confidence," Rabie said, adding that the canal remains the main artery for global East-West trade. He said the gradual return of major shipping lines is inevitable and closely linked to geopolitical developments in the region. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
