Ain Sokhna Port Expansion

Objective

Expand Egypt’s Red Sea–Med trade, increase port capacity, attract global shipping. The development of Ain Sokhna Port aligns with "Egypt Vision 2030," aiming to transform the nation into a premier global logistics and transit trade hub by establishing the largest port on the Red Sea. Key participants including the Egyptian government, the Hutchison Ports and COSCO Shipping consortium, and AD Ports Group are collaborating to expand transit capacity, integrate industrial zones, and diversify regional trade routes

Description

Ain Sokhna Port (Red Sea) and Alexandria Port (Mediterranean) are the anchor ports for the corridor, expanded with new basins, berths, terminals, and logistics areas. Hutchison Ports & COSCO Shipping secured a 30-year concession agreement to build and operate the new, semi-automated container terminal at Ain Sokhna Port. Hutchison Ports holds a 50% stake, COSCO Shipping Ports holds 25%, and CMA Terminals holds 25%. Phase I of this terminal (with a capacity of 1.7 million TEUs) officially launched operations. The UAE's AD Ports Group signed preliminary agreements and head-of-terms with the Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals (and the SCZONE) to explore, develop, and manage specific facilities at Ain Sokhna Port

History

The modern port era began in 1999 under a private Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) initiative, officially opening for commercial operations in October 2002 to service the Cairo industrial corridor. Its strategic location at the Red Sea entrance of the Suez Canal attracted global logistics giant DP World, which acquired the operating concession in 2008 and rapidly expanded its container and liquid bulk capabilities.In 2021, the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) launched a multi-billion-dollar expansion. By October 2025, the port entered the Guinness World Records for the deepest man-made basin excavated on land (19 metres). Today, operated by a global consortium including Hutchison Ports and COSCO Shipping, it stands as a premier automated transit hub.

Finance