Alexandria Governorate
Alexandria handled 74.4 million tonnes in 2024—transit containers up 197%—as Mediterranean transshipment increased during Red Sea diversions, proving how disruption elsewhere creates opportunity here.
Alexandria Port handles 60% of Egypt's maritime trade—74.4 million tonnes and 2.4 million TEUs in 2024, up from 17.6 million tonnes in 2012. This concentration makes Alexandria Egypt's economic jugular, ranking 90th globally among container ports. Transit containers surged 197% in 2024's first nine months; the port now handles 40% of Eastern Mediterranean transit traffic.
Expansion continues at aggressive pace. Hutchison Ports invested $700 million in capacity improvements. The Tahya Misr multipurpose terminal added 2.5 kilometers of quay at EGP 7 billion cost. Dredging operations target 18-meter drafts to accommodate mega-vessels. El-Dekheila Port's Berth 100 and Tahya Misr 2 terminal added 1,680 meters of quay and 1.5 million TEU capacity.
Alexandria's 2025 transit volumes hit 800,000 TEUs—up 41% year-over-year—demonstrating how Suez Canal disruptions created opportunities. As Red Sea traffic diverted around Africa, Mediterranean transshipment increased. The port's declared goal: become Egypt's preferred port and the Mediterranean's major trade hub by end of 2025.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria demonstrates how geographic advantages compound over millennia. The city's ancient lighthouse—one of the Seven Wonders—signaled maritime importance that modern container terminals inherit. Location creates path dependence; path dependence attracts investment; investment reinforces location advantage.