THE SUEZ CANAL AND ITS IMPACT ON TANKER TRADES AND ECONOMICS

Starting with a brief history of the Canal, Study 62 moves to a detailed comparison of present oil tanker traffic through the Canal with that of the pre-1867 period. This comparison includes a thorough analysis of the destinations of North and South bound tankers moving through the Canal since it re-opened. This is followed by a critical examination of plans to deepen and widen the Canal leading into an extensive discussion of Suez economics. The cost savings, if any, resulting from a tanker using the Canal, depend on both the size of the ship and its destination. In the Study the impact of Suez on the costs of oil transportation in a range of sizes (50-350,000 DWT) is calculated using both trading costs and spot market freight rates. Where relevant, three voyage patterns have been used--using Suez for both legs of a round voyage; Suez ballast/Cape loaded; and Cape/Cape. These calculations, which are discussed in detail, reveal the present least cost option for delivering oil to various destinations (the East and West Mediterranean; North Europe and the Caribbean/US Gulf), and are related to some of the factors identified in the analysis of oil/tanker movements since 1975. Finally, possible future changes in the comparative economics of using the Canal are discussed in relation to probable trends in trading costs and freight rates. The broad pattern of relationships between these trends, the level of Suez Canal dues, overall tanker supply and demand and the volume of Suez Canal traffic is also indicated.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Cost is $85.00.
• Corporate Authors:

  HPD Shipping Publications

  34 Brook Street, Mayfair
  London W1Y 2LL,   England 
• Publication Date: 1978-4

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Canals; Demand; Economic analysis; Economics; Freight traffic; Oil tankers; Petroleum; Rates; Tanker shipping; Tankers; Trade; Transportation; Trend (Statistics)
• Identifier Terms: Suez Canal
• Uncontrolled Terms: Freight rates
• Old TRIS Terms: Tanker demand; Tanker economics; Traffic analysis (Freight)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00178213
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: HPD Shipping Publications
• Report/Paper Numbers: Study No. 62
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 19 1978 12:00AM