Boost for North African logistics
NYK Lines and partners open new finished vehicle terminal along Suez Canal
The Suez Canal Automotive Terminal is Egypt’s first dedicated vehicle terminal and offers a new entry point to North African and Mediterranean markets.
A joint venture between NYK Lines, Africa Global Logistics and Toyota Tsusho Corporation has resulted in the opening of the Suez Canal Automotive Terminal (SCAT), Egypt’s first dedicated terminal for finished vehicles.
The terminal – officially opened earlier this month [July 2025] – is located at East Port Said and has a planned operating period of 30 years. It offers an initial storage capacity for 2,550 vehicles, with plans to expand to 10,000 units when operations are fully underway. The 21.2-hectares terminal can accommodate two large car carriers simultaneously and includes cargo transhipment capabilities.
Africa Global Logistics (AGL) was the primary partner for the terminal, with NYK Lines and Toyota Tsusho Corporation having equal minority stakes. AGL is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group and focuses on logistics operations across Africa.
The creation of a new terminal was driven by expectations that both imports and exports of finished vehicles in the region will rise as the populations and economies continue to develop, according to the joint venture partners.
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NYK Lines commented that the terminal “is well positioned to contribute significantly to Egypt’s development by capturing the increasing demand for automobile logistics in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region.”
Toyota Tsusho explained that "a chronic shortage of storage space" at Egypt's main port, Port Alexandria, was a driver for the creation of the SCAT. "A new receiving port was desired," it said.
With the terminal providing a new entry point to other markets, it can support route diversification for OEMs and logistics partners facing global disruption driven by port congestion, reduced vessel capacity and volatile shipping lanes.
The Suez Canal provides a vital route for shipments between Europe and Asia, however passage has been disrupted over the last year following a series of attacks against vessels in the Red Sea. Several shippers, including Møller Maersk, Mitsui OSK, and more, diverted vessels away from the region entirely.
Automotive Logistics has reached out to the partners involved for more information and will update this story as it becomes available.
