The growing turmoil in Egypt could end up disrupting shipments through the Suez Canal, thereby increasing the costs for shipping lines as Cairo's cash-strapped government struggles to bring in revenue.

Egypt's economy has been in crisis since 2011 due to a sharp fall in tourism and depleting foreign currency reserves, as the country looks forward to obtaining a loan from the International Monetary Fund.

"The government will try to generate some income in the short term through various creative surcharges”including, most likely, on transit fees through the Suez Canal. These measures will be counterproductive over the intermediate and long term," said Mr J. Peter Pham of US think tank, Atlantic Council.

The rising costs will also affect the shipping industry, which uses the 192-km (120 mile) waterway as the quickest route between Asia and Europe. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) had raised tolls in May to 5 per cent, after increasing them to 3 per cent in March 2012. A spokesman for the Authority said there won't be any further rate hikes this year.

"The system to announce tolls happens in the beginning of the year, so maybe in January there will be a decision to either raise, stabilise, or lower prices according to the global economy and other considerations," he added.