SCZone secures US$16B in investments as East Port Said container volumes surge
The authority expects to post record revenues and a financial surplus in the current fiscal year, with growth projected to exceed 30%.
EGYPT – Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has attracted nearly US$16 billion in investments over the past three years and nine months as Egypt accelerates efforts to position the zone as a major industrial and logistics gateway linking global trade corridors.
Speaking at a logistics conference in Cairo, SCZone Chairman Walid Gamal El-Din said the authority recorded another strong year for investment inflows, with US$7.1 billion secured to date in the current fiscal year.
For fresh-produce exporters, the zone’s expanding port infrastructure offers strategic advantages for transporting perishable goods between Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Surging Container Volumes and Port Expansion
Gamal El-Din highlighted significant growth in cargo throughput across the zone’s facilities. Container handling volumes at East Port Said Port rose from 2.4 million in 2024 to 5.6 million in 2026, accounting for nearly 70% of Egypt’s transit trade.
He also noted strong operational growth at El-Arish Port, which has emerged as a key regional cargo gateway, having handled between 4.5 million and 5 million tonnes annually.
At the same time, the authority continues to expand and modernize Sokhna Port as part of broader efforts to integrate Egypt’s ports into regional and international logistics corridors.
Strategic Sectors and Record Performance
The SCZone is increasingly focused on attracting investment to strategic sectors, including renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, metals, and electric vehicles.
According to Gamal El-Din, Egypt’s geographic location, competitive operating costs, and infrastructure upgrades are strengthening the zone’s appeal to global manufacturers and logistics operators seeking alternatives amid ongoing geopolitical and supply chain disruptions.
The authority expects to post record revenues and a financial surplus in the current fiscal year, with growth projected to exceed 30%.
Cargo Flow Analysis
SCZone’s integrated logistics platform, which combines ports, industrial zones, and maritime services, offers a competitive alternative to traditional transhipment hubs. East Port Said’s 5.6 million TEUs, up from 2.4 million in just two years, demonstrates the zone’s capacity to efficiently handle growing trade volumes.
Sokhna’s modernization will further support perishable cargo exports, while El-Arish’s emergence as a regional gateway will open new corridors for agricultural trade.
As global supply chains diversify away from congested routes, SCZone’s strategic location along the Suez Canal positions Egypt as a central transhipment powerhouse connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The zone’s record financial performance, with projected growth exceeding 30%, signals strong investor confidence in Egypt’s logistics ambitions.
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