Suez Canal Increases Toll Surcharges for Ships

The Suez Canal Authority has announced a series of temporary increases to surcharges levied on ships using the waterway.

The changes apply to just about all vessel types, including tankers carrying crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals and other liquid bulk cargoes, dry bulk vessels, general/multi-purpose cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off ships, containerships, and other vessels.

The Suez Canal Authority said the changes were made “?In line with the significant growth in global trade, the improvement of ships’ economics, the Suez Canal waterway development and the enhancement of the transit service.”

The changes come after the Suez Canal Authority adjusted tolls by as much as 10% on some vessel types effective March 1, 2022, just one month after it raised tolls by 6% for most vessel types, with the exception with the exception of cruise ships and LNG carriers.

The amended tolls announced today will apply to vessels transiting the Suez Canal from the 1st of May 2022.

“These surcharges are temporary and can be either amended or cancelled according to the maritime industry market conditions” the Suez Canal Authority said.

The increases also come one year after the Ever Given grounded and blocked the critical shipping choke point for six days back in March 2021. The Suez Canal kicked off a project to expand a portion of the waterway last summer, but in February Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie said it would be too expensive to widen the entire length of the waterway.

The amended surcharges announced today are as follows (details of each can be found on the Suez Canal Authority’s website under “Navigation Circulars”:

Crude Oil Tankers

The surcharge levied “Crude Oil Tankers” transiting in both directions is amended to be 15% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Ballast “Crude Oil Tankers” transiting in both directions is still charged a surcharge of 5% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Petroleum Products Tankers

The surcharge levied on Laden “Petroleum Products Tankers” transiting the Suez Canal in both directions, is amended to be 15% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Ballast “Petroleum Products Tankers” transiting in both directions is still charged a surcharge of 5% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Dry Bulk Vessels

The surcharge levied on (Laden/Ballast) “Dry Bulk Vessels” transiting in both directions, is amended to be 10% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

LPG Tankers

The surcharge levied on (Laden/Ballast) “Liquefied Petroleum Gas” transiting in both directions, is amended to be 20% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Chemical Tankers

The surcharge levied on (Laden/Ballast) “Chemical Tankers and Other Liquid Bulk Tankers” transiting in both directions, is amended to be 20% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

General Cargo

The surcharge levied on (Laden/Ballast) “General Cargo Vessels, Muti-Purpose Vessels, Heavy Lift Vessels, General Cargo/Heavy Lift Vessels, Multi-Purpose/Heavy Lift Vessels” transiting in both directions, is amended to be 14% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Roll-On/Roll-Off

The surcharge levied on (Laden/Ballast) “Roll-On Roll-Off RORO Vessels” transiting in both directions, is amended to be 14% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Other Vessels

The surcharge levied on (Laden/Ballast) “Other Vessels” transiting in both directions, is amended to be 14% from Suez Canal normal transit dues.

Container Ships

Surcharges levied on the tiers of containers situated on the weather-deck of southbound “Containerships” transiting the Suez Canal, to be amended from 5%-39% of normal tolls.

Surcharges levied on the tiers of containers situated on the weather-deck of northbound “Containerships” transiting the Suez Canal, to be amended from 9%-57% of normal tolls.