El Niño Threatens Panama Canal Transit Limits
The return of El Niño threatens water levels in the Panama Canal, prompting the authority to cap daily vessel transits starting in September. Shippers are increasingly taking longer detours around Africa as reservoir levels decline.
Xurve View
Insights:
Xurve View
Panama will cap daily vessel transits at 34 starting September 4, cutting further to 32 by September 15 as El Niño strains water levels. The restrictions echo the 2023-24 drought that slashed daily transits to 22 ships. The waterway handles crucial global shipping routes, making transit caps an immediate concern for international supply chains.
