Due to 'El Niño', Panama Canal reduces ship transit

The Panama Canal Authority announced on Thursday that it would impose a daily cap on the number of transits starting in early September, as it braces for an above-average El Niño climate season expected to lead to lower water levels, thereby reversing its previous commitment not to limit the number of passing ships.

Under the new measures, the Canal will set a daily transit limit of up to 34 ships starting September 4, reducing the number to 32 ships beginning September 15.

The average number of daily transits at the Canal reached 35 ships through June 2026, aligning with ship transit demand, with capacity to accommodate approximately 40 transits per day.

In May, the Canal Authority told Reuters that it did not plan to impose restrictions on ship passage this year, noting that it had already implemented measures to conserve water levels since 2025.

The Authority revealed that rainfall from May to August was 34 percent below the normal average, while inflows to watersheds dropped by 44 percent compared to typical levels.

The Authority warned that the anticipated intensity of El Niño between 2026 and 2027 could reduce rainfall rates, threatening the long-term sustainability of the waterway and local water supplies.