BYD XI’AN, One of the World’s Largest Vehicle Carriers, Transits Suez Canal on Maiden Voyage
ISMAILIA (EGYPT) : The Suez Canal Authority announced the transit of BYD XI’AN, one of the largest vehicle carriers in the world, through the Canal on its maiden voyage from Singapore to Italy. The vessel’s passage, as part of the southbound convoy, marks the second crossing by a BYD-affiliated carrier in less than a month, underscoring the growing reliance on the Suez Canal for automotive trade between Asia and Europe.
The BYD XI’AN, measuring 219 meters in length with a beam of 37 meters and a draft of 10 meters, has a carrying capacity of 9,442 vehicles. On this voyage, it transported approximately 7,000 vehicles. The vessel is operated by China’s BYD, the country’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, and follows the June 27 transit of the BYD HEFEI, signaling an increase in the shipping line’s use of the Suez Canal.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, stated that the Canal is seeing renewed momentum in the vehicle carrier segment. He emphasized that, despite geopolitical uncertainties, vehicle carriers are returning to the Canal in greater numbers, with a projected 20 percent increase in total tonnage expected in the second half of 2025 compared to the first six months of the year.
Admiral Rabiee noted the strategic importance of the Suez Canal for global automotive logistics, pointing to its continued relevance for services connecting the Far East to the Mediterranean and northern Europe. He highlighted the regular transits of COSCO-affiliated vessels operating in cooperation with Neptune Lines, as well as new services launched earlier this year by United Global Ro-Ro. The latter’s route links Asian ports with the Mediterranean and northwestern Europe, further strengthening the Canal’s role in global trade flows.
“The return of vehicle carriers to the Suez Canal is a testament to the trust placed in the Canal as the main artery for global trade between East and West,” said Admiral Rabiee. “The gradual resumption of traffic by major shipping lines is inevitable, and the pace will be determined by the evolving geopolitical landscape.”
Captain Rizwan Kapadi, master of the BYD XI’AN, also praised the transit experience, calling the Suez Canal the “shortest, fastest, and safest route for global shipping.” He cited reduced transit times, navigational safety, and predictable weather conditions as key advantages over the Cape of Good Hope.
The successful voyage of BYD XI’AN further underscores the Canal’s operational resilience and its central role in accommodating the resurgence of vehicle carriers amid shifting trade patterns.
Source : Suez Canal Authority