The Suez Canal has risen "tolls" and influenced geometry on global trade?

According to the Associated Press, the Suez Canal Administration of Egypt issued a statement saying that it will increase the ship's shipping fee of the Suez Canal in January 2023, and the traffic fee for cruise and transportation ships will be increased by 10%. %.

Usama Raaber, chairman of the Suez Canal Administration, said that the increase in channel operations, maintenance and maritime service costs caused by the surge in inflation rates in the world is the main reason for the increase in this toll.

Frequent price adjustment

Suez Canal is known as the "crossroads" of the world channel and is one of the busiest channels in the world. About 12%of global trade and 7%of oil transported through the Suez Canal, accounting for 30%of the global container transportation. The Canal income is also an important source of fiscal revenue and foreign exchange reserves in Egypt.

It is reported that the Suez Canal Administration of Egypt has raised the canal toll three times this year, ranging from 5%to 10%. In July of this year, Usama Rabiey, chairman of the Suez Canal Administration, issued a statement saying that the Canal 2021/2022 fiscal operating data set a historical record of $ 7 billion, an increase of more than 20%year -on -year.

"Historically, the Passing fee of the Suez Canal has gone through many stages of adjustment." Zhao Jun, an associate professor of the Middle East Research Institute of Shanghai Foreign Languages ​​University, told the Overseas Edition of the People's Daily that from 1956 to 1965, the Suez Canal was relatively small. It is not strictly classified, and the difference between the fees is not much different. After the Fourth Middle East War, the Suez Canal was reopened and charged according to the type of ship type and tonnage. Due to the surge in oil prices, the cost of the oil tanker increased greater. At the end of the 1990s, the Suez Canal formed a model of charging in eight types of ships and different tonnage sections, which were generally used to this day. Until the late Mubarak regime, the annual revenue of the Suez Canal remained between $ 4 billion and $ 5 billion.

According to the public data of the Suez Canal Administration, in August this year, the monthly charging of the Suez Canal ship's monthly charging reached a new high, reaching $ 745 million, exceeding 10%of the Canal's 2021/2022 income. Usasa Rabier said that after the rising toll in 2023, the Suez Canal is expected to increase another $ 700 million each year.

"Price increase" is inevitable

Usama Rabier said in a statement that in the face of continuous rise in energy prices and freight, the increase in price increases in the canal is "inevitable and necessary." The British "Maritime News" reported that at the time of the rise in fuel costs, through the ship operator of the Suez Canal, it saved fuel costs with shorter routes.

"According to the global market situation, the Suez Canal's traffic fee has been in the process of dynamic adjustment for a long time. Suez Canal will increase the price 10%since 2023, which is also reasonable." Large economy pillar. Affected by the new coronary pneumonia's epidemic and international situation, Egypt's energy and overseas Chinese exchange income were significantly frustrated. Although it has rebounded today, there is a large uncertainty. The tourism industry is still optimistic. Only the canal has become the most stable source of income. Earlier, in order to boost the tourism industry, the Suez Canal was free of passenger charges. At present, the sovereign debt crisis in Egypt is seriously troubled by the shortage of foreign exchange. It is urgent to increase the canal cost to supplement foreign exchange reserves.

In recent years, the Suez Canal has occurred in the "blocking boat" incident. According to Reuters, on August 31st this year, a tanker with a Singaporean flag was stranded in a single channel extension in the southern Suez Canal, causing the waterway to suspend short -term.

"The number of vessels in the Suez Canal has increased year by year, and infrastructure needs to be continuously improved. In 2014, the Suez Canal carried out large -scale expansion, and the cost has not yet been completely recovered. At present, the canal is still expanding and deepening the river, and a large amount of funds need to be raised." Zhao Jun said.

Hopeless impact scope

The canal increased profit will provide important funding support for Egyptian economic development. Egyptian President Cecil recently announced that three yacht ports will be established from the Suez Canal's income to support the national economy. Cessis said that as part of the comprehensive development plan of Egypt in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the construction of ports will create a large number of employment opportunities and drive the development of the surrounding tourism industry.

"From the perspective of the global trade pattern, the increase in the expenses of the Suez Canal will be transmitted to the main body of ship vendors, which may further promote global inflation and affect the global economic recovery." Demand may be replaced by air transportation and railways. However, in view of the Suez Canal has an incomparable economic value for international commodity transportation, and international shipping is at a booming period, the raising costs have limited impact on global trade.

Gilbert Lagart, CEO of the East African Consid by Corporation, said that the rise in the Suez Canal's "cross -toll" has mainly affected East African traders. East Africa's trade with Europe and Asia is extremely dependent on the Suez Canal. The rise in traffic will complicate the import and export of goods in the region. Due to large -scale economic considerations, some ships may change the route.

"It should also be observed for the adjustment of this pass." Zhao Jun said that the Egyptian Canal Administration's previous prices were fiercely treated. The price adjustment of this pass is set to take effect in the following year, but there is a certain buffer room for retention."At present, global oil prices have a downward trend. Whether the Suez Canal Polition has been implemented as scheduled, it still needs to pay close attention to energy prices."

"People's Daily Overseas Edition" (September 29, 2022)

- END -