Located in Egypt, the Suez Canal is an important international shipping channel connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and connecting the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, greatly shortening the voyage between East and West.

Suez Canal is one of the most frequently used air routes in the world. It is also the border between Asia and Africa, and the main channel for Asian people to lead to Africa and Europe.

The canal starts from Port Said in the north and ends at Suez City in the south, with a total length of190km. It enters the Mediterranean Sea from the north of Port Said and ends in the south of Suez. The completion of the Suez Canal has turned the African Peninsula into the African continent, Egypt spans Asia and Africa, and the trade in southwest Asia, northeast Africa and southern Europe is busier.

The Suez Canal is of great value to the economic development of Egypt. According to statistics, about 18000 ships from more than 100 countries and regions in the world pass through the canal every year. 70% of the oil exported from the Middle East to Western Europe is transported through the Suez Canal, and the goods transported through the Suez Canal account for 14% of world shipping's trade every year. Among the artificial canals suitable for maritime transportation in the world, Suez Canal ranks among the best, with many ships passing by and large freight volume.

Suez Canal is the "lifeline" and "cash cow" of Egyptian economy. In the past, ship tolls, together with remittances, tourism and oil, have been the four pillars of Egypt's foreign exchange income for many years. At present, the canal receives $2 million in foreign exchange for the Egyptian government every day. Ships crossing the canal pay tolls according to tonnage, as well as water diversion fees and navigation fees.

The Suez Canal has greatly shortened the voyage from Asian ports to Europe, which can be shortened by more than 8000- 10000 kilometers. It connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, and connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal. It is an international shipping channel with important economic and strategic significance.

This canal allows the north-south two-way water transport between Europe and Asia without bypassing the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, greatly saving the voyage. The voyage from London port in England or Marseille port in France to Mumbai port in India can be shortened by 43% and 56% respectively through Suez Canal compared with bypassing the Cape of Good Hope. The distance between Jeddah Port and constanta Port around the Black Sea at the Cape of Good Hope is 1 177 1 mile, while the distance through Suez Canal is only 1698 mile, saving 86% of the distance. Before the opening of the Suez Canal, people sometimes transported goods between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea by land transportation. Compared with bypassing the Cape of Good Hope in Africa; It runs through the Isthmus of Suez from the lowest point, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Along the way, dry lakes and depressions such as large and small bitter lakes are used as navigation channels. The length from Port Said to Port Taufik is 16 1 km, and the total length of rivers extending into the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea is 173 km. River width160-200m, river bottom width 60-100m. All seagoing ships with draft 1 1.6m, full load of 65,000 tons or empty load15,000 tons can pass. The average transit time is 15 hours.

After the opening of the canal, the voyage from western Europe to the Indian Ocean is 5500-8000 kilometers shorter than that around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The canal is strategically located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa. The number of ships passing through and the freight volume rank first among all international canals, among which oil in the north and metals and their products in the south are the most important. After the completion of the first-phase project 1980, the river surface will be widened to 365 meters, so that seagoing ships with draft 16 meters, full load150,000 tons or no load of 350,000 tons can pass in both directions.

The main goods shipped to the north are crude oil and petroleum products, coal, ores and metals, processed metals, wood, oilseeds and oilseeds cakes, and grains. Goods shipped to the south include cement, fertilizer, metal products and grain.

7% of the world shipping trade volume passes through the Suez Canal, of which 35% are ports along the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, 20% are ports in India and Southeast Asia, and 39% are ports in the Far East.