The Panama Canal operator announced a reduction in daily vessel transits from 36–40 to 32 by September 15, 2026, due to El Niño–driven drought. The cuts risked slower shipping schedules and higher shipping costs globally.
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From Sept. 3, the number of vessels allowed through each day will fall from 36 to 34, before dropping further to 32 from Sept. 15 onward.
Panama Canal will cut daily transits from 40 to 32 vessels by September 15, risking slower shipping and higher costs.
The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month because of drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon, the operator of the strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific said on Thursday. From September 3, the number of vessels allowed through each day will fall from 36 to 34 due to low water levels in two artificial lakes that feed the canal, the Panama Can