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Links the Mediterranean with the Red Sea: 4.9 million barrels a day in the first half of 2025, counting the SUMED pipeline. Loaded ships may draw up to 66 ft (20.1 m) if their beam is at most 50 m; wider ships follow the canal authority's draught-by-beam table. Ships sail in two convoys a day, so a wait of up to a day is normal, and since 15 July 2026 crude tankers pay a temporary surcharge of 37 % laden and 27 % in ballast. The SUMED pipeline, 2.5 million barrels a day, lets the largest tankers skip the canal.
| Item | Value | Conditions | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suez Canal | ||||
| max draught | 66 (20.12) ft (m) | loaded; only with beam ≤164'0" (49.99 m); must not exceed Tropical LL; sea trial before first passage if >50 ft | Dec 2020 edition (in force 1 Jan 2021) | Suez Canal Authority (A) |
| max draught vs beam | Table 2 (313 rows, 66'0"↔164'0" … 40'0"↔254'3") ft / m | loaded, both directions | Dec 2020 | SCA (A) |
| max draught, ballast | ≤ 40 ft | any beam up to 254'3" (Table 1, "recommended") | Dec 2020 | SCA (A) |
| max beam | 254'3" (77.50) ft (m) | >210 ft only with beam wind ≤10 kn; larger by special request | Dec 2020 | SCA (A) |
| max LOA | 400 m | longer by special arrangement | Dec 2020 | SCA (A) |
| max air draft | 68 m | above HHWL | Dec 2020 | SCA (A) |
| transit speed | 14 km/h | loaded oil tankers / bulk with draught >44 ft; others 16 km/h | Dec 2020 | SCA (A) |
| max loaded ship (headline) | 240,000 DWT | indicative; binding rule is Table 2 | undated web page (2015 column) | SCA (A) |
| max water depth | 24 m | 2010/2015 | undated | SCA (A) |
| crude tanker toll surcharge | +37 laden / +27 ballast % of normal dues | from 15 Jul 2026; temporary | 7 Jun 2026 | SCA (A) |
| oil flow 1H25 (incl. SUMED) | 4.9 (crude 2.8 / products 2.1) mb/d | 1H25 | EIA World Oil Transit Chokepoints (updated 2026-03-03; flows from Vortexa) (B) | |
| convoys | 2 per day (southbound 03:30, northbound 04:00); arrive Port Said by 23:00 for next southbound convoy | implies up to ~1 day wait | Suez Canal Authority (A) | |
| SUMED pipeline | ||||
| capacity | 2.5 mb/d | Ain Sukhna → Sidi Kerir; tariff not public | EIA World Oil Transit Chokepoints (updated 2026-03-03; flows from Vortexa) (B) | |