As unrest in Egypt shows little sign of abating, worries have grown about what could happen to the flow of oil and goods through the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is one of the world's most strategic shipping routes. Nearly 20 per cent of the trade moving via the Suez canal is from the Indian subcontinent and east Asia. A blockage will mean ships will take the longer route of cape of good hope, in turn raising shipping freights.