Effective July 15, the Suez Canal Authority has increased the temporary transit surcharge for most vessel types, imposing a uniform 12-percentage-point surcharge on top of the current transit fees.

The specific adjustments are as follows:

Crude oil and refined product tankers: 25% → 37%

Empty tankers: 15% → 27%

Dry bulk carriers: 10% → 22%

LNG carriers: 7% → 19%

Container ships: Remains unchanged at 12%

Although the surcharge for container ships has not increased, the 12% rate itself is already relatively high. Based on a single passage fee of approximately $1 million for a 20,000 TEU vessel, a 12% surcharge amounts to $120,000, which works out to about $7 per TEU. Shipping companies will most likely pass this cost on to shippers through surcharges such as GRI and PSS, and it will ultimately be reflected in the freight bills of exporting companies.

Oil tankers and LNG carriers saw the largest increases. This means that transportation costs for energy and commodities will rise significantly, which may indirectly drive up the prices of raw materials and finished products. Companies exporting chemical products, plastics, fertilizers, and energy-related goods need to pay close attention to this cost-pass-through chain.

These price increases come against the backdrop of a rebound in canal traffic. Due to the Red Sea crisis, ships had previously been diverting en masse around the Cape of Good Hope, causing a significant drop in canal revenue. However, since 2026, some oil tankers and energy carriers have resumed using the Suez route, resulting in a 13.9% year-over-year increase in traffic in April and revenue of approximately $425 million. The Authority is attempting to maximize revenue through price adjustments during this window of rising traffic.

For logistics professionals, changes in the Suez Canal surcharge require ongoing monitoring. Although container ship rates did not increase this time, the 12% surcharge, combined with shipping lines’ own peak-season surcharges, creates significant cumulative cost pressure.