The Panama Canal Authority announced it will reduce daily vessel transits from 36 to 34 starting September 3, with a further cut to 32 by September 15, citing rainfall levels in the canal’s watershed that have not kept pace with water demand. The waterway relies on freshwater lakes to operate its locks, and any shortfall forces authorities to ration transit slots to preserve draft levels.
The cuts follow a period of relative stability after the severe 2023-2024 drought that forced far deeper restrictions, but they signal the canal remains vulnerable to rainfall swings even in years without a full-blown crisis. Shippers are once again weighing the cost of Panama’s booking auction system against longer routes via Suez or around South America.
Source: Seatrade Maritime News â https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/program/focus-panama
Tags: Panama Canal, Ports & Logistics, Drought
