Egypt Suez Canal revenues hit record

Egypt's revenues from the Suez Canal climbed to $422.6 million in October 2007 from $345.2 million in the same month last year, the government said on Monday on its Information Portal Web Site. Canal revenues were $403.7 million in September.

The Suez Canal is an important source of foreign currency for Egypt, along with tourism, oil and gas exports and remittances from Egyptians living abroad. The number of vessels passing through the waterway rose to 1,787 in October from 1,761 in September, and from 1,689 in October 2006, the report said. Reuters