Revenue has fallen at the Suez Canal during 2015, but takings have risen since the new expanded waterway opened in August. The Egyptian operating authority said income last year was $5.17bn, from $5.46bn in 2014. December’s figure was $429.2m, against $445.5m the year before. The $8.5bn project widened the 193-kilometre waterway in its middle part, allowing two-way, parallel traffic for two convoys starting from its opposite ends at around 3:30am to 4:00am daily. Transit times on the southbound route are shortened to about 11 hours from 18 and waiting times before entering the channel should fall to three from up to 11 currently.
