What changed
The SCA's route rebates were last renewed in November 2025, to 30 June 2026 (Periodicals 17 to 28/2025). On 21 May 2026 it published twelve periodicals keeping them in force until 31 December 2026. For most of them the test is the last permissible sailing date from the port of origin. For LNG carriers it is the transit date.
| Vessel type | Trade | Periodical |
|---|---|---|
| Dry bulk, laden or ballast | Australia and North West Europe (from Cádiz and ports north) | 4/2026 |
| Dry bulk, laden or ballast | East coast of the Americas (down to Brazil) and Asia | 5/2026 |
| Dry bulk, laden or ballast | Mauritania and West African ports south of it, and the Arabian Gulf, India and the Far East | 6/2026 |
| Dry bulk (tariff 3L/3B or 13L) | Egyptian Red Sea ports and South West Africa | 7/2026 |
| LNG carriers, laden or ballast | East coast of the Americas and US Gulf, and Asia (transits 1 July to 31 December 2026) | 8/2026 |
| Crude oil tankers, laden or ballast | US Gulf, Caribbean and Latin America, and Asia | 9/2026 |
| LPG carriers, laden or ballast | East coast of the Americas and US Gulf, and India and ports east | 10/2026 |
| Petroleum products tankers (rate 2L) | US Gulf, Caribbean and Latin America, and Asia | 11/2026 |
| Chemical and other liquid bulk tankers (6L/6B) | US Gulf (Miami and west, and ports south) and India and ports east | 12/2026 |
| Containerships, laden or ballast | East coast of the Americas and US Gulf, to South and South East Asia | 13/2026 |
| Containerships, laden or ballast | North West Europe and Tangier (from Algeciras) to Port Klang and east: exemption from the 15% increase of Circular 7/2023 | 14/2026 |
| Vehicle carriers, laden or ballast | East coast of the Americas and US Gulf, and the Far East and South East Asia (from Port Klang) | 15/2026 |
The periodicals renew the original circulars (for example Circular 2/2017 for Australian dry bulk, 1/2018 for crude). The rebate percentages and qualifying conditions are in those original circulars, not in the renewals.
The 15% rebate for containerships of 130,000 SCNT and above is not on this list. The SCA suspended it in April 2026 (Periodical 3/2026).
Who is affected
- Owners, operators and charterers fixing voyages on these trades that will sail from the port of origin after 31 December 2026. As published today, those voyages would not qualify.
- Anyone comparing the Suez route with the Cape of Good Hope on these trades. The rebate is often what makes Suez the cheaper option, and it has to be set against the surcharges raised from 15 July 2026.
What to do
- Don't assume the rebate for 2027 sailings yet. In the last cycle the renewal came out on 21 May 2026, about six weeks before the 30 June expiry. CanalAgent will publish an alert when the SCA issues the next one.
- Check the original circular for your trade to confirm the percentage and the conditions (direct voyage, ports, laden or ballast) before you price it into a fixture.
- Ask your agent to apply the rebate and the July 2026 surcharge together when confirming the dues estimate.