Influences of the Suez Canal on World Trade

The distance between Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Constanza (Black Sea) is 11771 miles via the Cape of Good Hope, while it is only 1698 miles via the Suez Canal, thus a saving of 86% in distance is achieved. A saving of 23% in distance is also achieved by using the Suez Canal for the voyage from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Tokyo (Japan) if compared to the Cape route.

5.9% of world seaborne trade passes through the Suez Canal, this in addition to 32% of Suez Canal goods traffic from/to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, 15.8% from/to South Asia and 42% from/to South East Asia and Far East.