Egypt said on Saturday it had successfully tested a new 10 km channel near the southern end of the Suez Canal, even as its revenue from the waterway has plunged since Yemen's Houthi militants began attacking vessels in the Red Sea.

Egypt has tested a new 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) extension to the Suez Canal as it tries to minimise the impact of currents on shipping and increase the key waterway's capacity.

In November, 115 container vessels passed through the canal, a 72 percent drop from the 422 that passed through a year ago, says Project44.

Events in the Red Sea and regional challenges cost Egypt around $7 billion in revenues from the Suez Canal in 2024, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday. Egypt lost more than 60% of the canal's revenues in 2024 compared with 2023,

Egypt lost roughly $7 billion in revenues from the Suez Canal, down about 60 per cent annually, mainly as a result of attacks by Yemen's Houthis on ships in the Red Sea, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said on Thursday.