Suez Canal revenues decline in 2013

Suez Canal revenues have fallen by 2.7 percent in the first half of 2013, by 11.6 million US dollars compared to last year. According to the figures from the Suez Canal Authority, the revenues in June 2013 reached 404.6 million US dollars, while in June ??2012 they reached 415.9 million US dollars.? The artificial canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and is one the world’s most heavily used shipping lanes, providing the shortest maritime routs to shipping vessels from Europe and Asia It provides a major source of income for Egypt, comprising of around 10 percent of its annual national income. Officials from the authority said the decline in revenue is not related to political ?tensions in the country.