Suez Canal Authority

What Suez Canal Authority does

The Suez Canal Authority (هيئة قناة السويس) is a wholly-owned Egyptian government administrative agency founded in 1956 following President Nasser's nationalization decree, which manages, operates, maintains, and improves the 193.30 km Suez Canal — the artificial waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea at Port Said to the Red Sea at Suez that handles approximately 12–15% of global trade. SCA generates the majority of its revenue through vessel transit tolls calculated in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) units based on Suez Canal Net Tonnage (SCNT), with supplementary income from shipyard services at Port-Said (up to 35,000-ton dry docks) and Port-Tawfik (2,000-ton Synchrolift), maritime salvage and IMCA-certified underwater works, fresh water supply to canal cities, and marine products. The authority employs approximately 14,000 Egyptian nationals and operates a two-convoy navigation system, an electronic transit and toll portal, a dedicated maritime communications center (Radio Ismailia), and a fleet of dredgers, tugs, and cranes.

The core technology stack centers on the canal infrastructure itself (193.30 km, 24m max depth, 313m surface width) and the completed New Suez Canal / southern sector expansion under Strategy 2030, which lifted navigational safety by 28% and cut transit times by roughly 28%. Its e-services portal handles transit requests, toll calculation, long-haul and circulars rebates, crew changes, shipyard services, and tendering for the global network of licensed navigation agents. Strategic partnerships with Anchorage Investments ($2B+ Ain Sokhna petrochemical complex), JICA ($22M Diving Support Vessel grant), and recovery agreements with Maersk and CMA CGM — both returning after a two-year Houthi-driven Red Sea hiatus — are reshaping SCA's revenue mix toward petrochemical diversification and renewed container shipping volumes. Tolls are annually revised and offered in multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, SEK, DKK, NOK, CHF, CNY), with rebate programs including Long Haul, Cargo Incentive (LNG), and SUMED Pipeline cooperation.

Name

Suez Canal Authority

Legal name

Suez Canal Authority

Website

https://suezcanal.gov.eg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Suez Canal Authority is an Egyptian government agency that operates the 193.30 km Suez Canal waterway, charging transit tolls to global shipping lines and operating two shipyards, maritime salvage, and water services for canal-zone cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Transit Services

NAICS

Water Transportation (483), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Canal Pilots (Suez/Panama-Type Transit Pilotage) (TLAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

Keywords

• Maritime transit services
• Canal toll collection
• Shipyard and dry-dock
• Maritime salvage services
• Vessel traffic management

Headquarters

HQ city

Ismailia

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vessel Transit Tolls: Primary revenue source. Tolls are calculated based on vessel type and Suez Canal Net Tonnage (SCNT) using SDR (Special Drawing Rights) units. The authority offers various discount programs including Long Haul Rebate System, Tolls Permanent Reductions, Cargo Incentive Rebate Policy for LNG, Time Saving Service, and cooperation with the SUMED Pipeline. Tolls are annually revised to reflect market conditions.
2. Shipyard Services: Revenue from ship repair, shipbuilding, underwater works, dredging, and marine salvage services at Port-Said and Port-Tawfik shipyards.
3. Water Services: Fresh water supply services to canal cities (Ismailia, Port Said, Suez) for residents and businesses.
4. Marine Products: Sale of marine products and related goods through the authority's marine products division.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Suez Canal Authority operates and maintains the Suez Canal, providing maritime transit services to global shipping companies through canal navigation, transit toll collection, vessel traffic management, and supporting marine services including shipyard repairs, maritime salvage, and bunkering. As the operator of one of the world's most strategic waterways, it serves commercial container lines, oil and LNG tanker operators, bulk carriers, and other vessel operators as customers.

Product overview

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) operates the Suez Canal, a critical artificial waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. SCA provides a comprehensive suite of e-services including online transit request management, tolls calculation and payment, vessel rebates, crew change services, and shipyard services. The authority operates two major shipyards (Port-Said and Port-Tawfik) offering ship repair, new shipbuilding, and fiberglass boat manufacturing. Maritime salvage and underwater works services are provided through specialized departments with IMCA-certified divers. The authority's floating equipment fleet includes dredgers, tugs, and cranes for canal operations and maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Suez Canal Transit Services Core service providing vessel navigation through the Suez Canal between the Mediterranean and Red Sea, available to global commercial shipping lines, tankers, bulk carriers, and other vessel operators via direct transit or authorized navigation agents.
• E-Services Portal (Transit Request & Tolls Calculator) Online digital platform enabling shipping operators to submit transit requests, calculate applicable tolls, and view live ship positions, supporting operational planning and toll transparency.
• Shipyard and Dry-Dock Services Shipyard and dry-dock repair services offered to transiting commercial vessels, allowing routine maintenance and emergency repairs to be conducted alongside canal transit.
• Maritime Salvage and Rescue Services Salvage, towage, and emergency rescue services for vessels in distress within the Suez Canal, supporting safety of navigation and rapid incident response.
• Bunkering Services Marine fuel bunkering services offered to transiting vessels, enabling refueling during transit calls at Suez Canal ports.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28.79 million barrels of crude loaded through Sumed Pipeline in July 2025 (up from 19.52 million in April 2025) — demonstrating increased reliance on Suez corridor for energy exports
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, major and strategic.

• NERI (Italian company)minorOthers · 8 February 2026SCA signed a contract to export two tugboats to Italian company NERI, demonstrating the authority's shipbuilding capabilities and its ability to serve international maritime clients.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2025SCA signed a $22 million grant agreement with JICA to construct and supply a Diving Support Vessel (DSV) in Japan. The vessel features advanced environmental and safety systems including dual-fuel engines and decompression chambers, designed to improve navigational safety and emergency response capabilities for the authority's maritime rescue and operational functions.
• CMA CGMmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025CMA CGM, a major global container shipping line, returned to Suez Canal transits in late 2025 following a two-year hiatus. Key vessels including CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, CMA CGM ADONIS, CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin (largest container ship to transit in two years), CMA CGM VENDOME, and CMA CGM NOTRE DAME have transited the canal, signaling a recovery in canal traffic.
• Anchorage InvestmentsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2025The Suez Canal Authority signed a strategic equity partnership with Anchorage Investments to develop a petrochemical complex in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. The project has an initial investment exceeding $2 billion for a polypropylene plant, with future expansions estimated at $4.5 billion. It aims to produce high value-added industrial products, create over 2,500 jobs, and reduce Egypt's petrochemical imports. The project is aligned with Egypt's economic diversification and export expansion strategies, leveraging Egypt's geographic position near key trade routes.
• MaerskmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025Maersk, the world's second largest container line, agreed to resume navigation along the East-West corridor via the Suez Canal and Red Sea from December 2025 after nearly two years of suspension due to Houthi attacks. The resumption is part of a broader strategic partnership with SCA and depends on regional safety conditions. Discussions also include regional security and navigation freedom.
• Maersk GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2025Egypt and Maersk Group officials discussed expanding cooperation in maritime transport, logistics, and green energy projects. Discussions highlighted Maersk's investments in Egypt including green fuel initiatives and port expansion at East Port Said, with a focus on regional stability and Gaza reconstruction.
• South Red Sea Shipyard CompanystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2025Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with SCA Chairperson Osama Rabie and South Red Sea Shipyard Company Chairperson Mostafa El-Degheishy to review plans for domestic shipbuilding and fleet expansion, including progress on fiberglass passenger boats, deep-sea fishing vessels, and tugboats. The meeting focused on localizing marine vessel manufacturing to meet domestic demand and create export opportunities through private sector partnerships.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Panama Canal Authority: The Panama Canal Authority operates the Panama Canal, the world's other major inter-oceanic canal. It is the closest direct peer to SCA: a government-linked canal operator monetizing transit tolls on a strategic chokepoint serving global shipping, with similar concerns around toll pricing, customer concentration, and waterway capacity expansion.

Broad incumbents

• DP World: DP World is one of the world's largest marine terminal operators with a portfolio of ports and logistics assets globally. Comparable as a major operator of critical maritime trade infrastructure, though focused on terminal/port handling rather than canal transit, and operating as a commercial entity rather than a state authority.
• PSA International: PSA International operates the Port of Singapore, the world's second-largest container port, and a global terminal network. Comparable as a state-linked operator of critical maritime trade infrastructure with global reach, though focused on container terminal handling rather than canal transit.
• Hutchison Ports: Hutchison Ports operates one of the world's largest networks of container terminal businesses across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Comparable as a global port and maritime infrastructure operator serving the same container shipping customers as SCA, though diversified across many terminals rather than concentrated on a single waterway.
• APM Terminals: APM Terminals, a Maersk subsidiary, operates a global network of container terminals. Comparable as a major port operator serving the same global container shipping customer base as SCA, with Maersk being one of SCA's largest customers - representing both partnership and competitive overlap in maritime logistics.
• COSCO Shipping Ports: COSCO Shipping Ports operates a major portfolio of container terminals globally. Comparable as a state-affiliated global port operator serving the same large container shipping customers as SCA, though focused on terminal handling and diversified across many ports rather than canal transit.

Others

• Royal Boskalis Westminster: Boskalis is a global maritime services company specializing in dredging, maritime infrastructure, and salvage. Comparable as an ecosystem participant providing dredging services critical to canal maintenance and expansion, similar to SCA's in-house dredging and maritime salvage operations.
• Van Oord: Van Oord is a Dutch maritime contracting company focused on dredging, offshore energy, and coastal infrastructure. Comparable as an ecosystem participant providing maritime infrastructure and dredging services adjacent to SCA's canal deepening and southern sector development work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/suezauthorityeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/SuezCanalAuthorityEG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portsaid-shipyard-sca

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Suez Canal Authority