Supported by IFC, Egypt Opens Transformational Second Terminal at East Port Said Port

Cairo, Egypt, November 17, 2025 – Egypt inaugurated a second container terminal at East Port Said Port, a project supported by IFC that will greatly expand the port’s capacity, boosting trade and economic development in Egypt and the wider region, while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

IFC’s loan of up to $175 million to Suez Canal Container Terminal Company (SCCT) helped fund the transformational infrastructure project, bolstering Egypt's position as a key logistics and trade hub in the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi inaugurated the second container terminal, which will increase the port's overall capacity by nearly 2.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), about 45 percent of the port’s capacity. It will also add an additional 955-metre berth and a 510,000 sqm container yard.

The new container terminal is committed to sustainability, including by integrating the use of electric cranes. SCCT will also strengthen its environmental and social management system, aligning it with IFC’s Performance Standards, which provide guidance on identifying risks and impacts as a way of doing business in a sustainable way.

“SCCT is committed to expanding operations at our terminal in East Port Said Port, which is strategically located in the Suez Canal and Suez Canal Economic Zone. This investment is an integral part of Maersk’s and APM Terminals’ commitment to invest in Egypt and will enhance service levels to our customers,” said Keld Mosgaard Christensen, SCCT’s Managing Director. “SCCT, APM Terminals, and Maersk have a long-standing relationship with IFC and appreciate IFC’s support in the changing global shipping environment.”

“This expansion is a strategic investment that strengthens SCCT’s financial and operational foundation for long-term growth,” said Feza Engizek, SCCT’s Chief Financial Officer. “We are not only expanding capacity but also enhancing profitability and cost efficiency through which we deliver sustainable value for our shareholders, customers and Egypt’s economy”.

“Investment in modern, efficient port infrastructure will help Egypt cement its important role as a hub for trade in the region,” said Cheick-Oumar Sylla, IFC’s Division Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa. “IFC is proud to support the growth of Egypt's port sector, advancing the country’s efforts to promote greater private sector involvement in infrastructure projects.”

“By strategically deploying capital into state-of-the-art port infrastructure, IFC is solidifying Egypt’s status as the region’s essential trade gateway. Our commitment to supporting the expansion of Egypt’s Container Terminal at East Port Said Port reflects IFC’s development strategy for Egypt, which places infrastructure investment at its core.” said Sarvesh Suri, IFC’s Regional Industry Director for Infrastructure & Natural Resources, Africa.

SCCT is Egypt’s largest container terminal and the main transit point for trade routes between Asia and Europe. In 2024, SCCT ranked the third most efficient container port in the world and the first in the region in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).

The container terminal project aligns with the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for Egypt, which aims to promote, among other goals, the creation of high-quality private sector jobs in the country and foster green, resilient, and inclusive development.

Since beginning operations in Egypt in 1976, IFC has invested and mobilized $10 billion in development projects. IFC’s private sector support in Egypt focuses on fintech, climate finance, manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, gender, and other sectors.