Egypt's annual revenues from the Suez Canal climbed to a record $5.113 billion in the fiscal year to end-June, up around $945.6 million from the previous year.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the number of vessels passing through the waterway rose to 21,080 ships from 19,479 the year before.

The Suez Canal Authority raised ships' fees by an average of 2.8 percent in April 2006.

The canal is an important source of foreign currency for Egypt, along with remittances from Egyptians living abroad, tourism, and oil and gas exports. - Reuters