Egypt's Suez Canal Authority said on Thursday it would raise toll fees for all vessels passing through the strategic waterway by 3 per cent starting March 2012, saying tariffs had not been changed for the previous three years.

'The Suez Canal Authority has decided the following regarding toll fees in 2012 ... firstly raising vessel toll fees in 2012 by 3 per cent for all types of ships passing through the canal,' it said in a statement.

It said the change followed studies about the global economy and trade. – Reuters