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Panama Canal to reduce daily transits amid El Niño dryness
The Panama Canal Authority will allow 32 ships per day from 15 September, down from 36, citing low rainfall and water-supply needs for long-term transit reliability.
The Panama Canal Authority will cut the number of vessels passing through the canal due to low rainfall tied to El Niño, telling shipping firms that 32 ships a day will be able to transit from 15 September, down from 36 currently, according to BBC Business.
The canal operator said the decision is intended to preserve service reliability and safeguard water resources for human consumption, even after the arrival of the rainy season in Central America and other water-saving measures already in place.
El Niño, described as periodic warming of sea surface temperatures, is expected to be particularly strong this year, with effects intensified by climate change, and the authority warned that additional action is needed to support the long-term sustainability of transit operations.
The Panama Canal carries about 14,000 ships per year and runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it also generates roughly $3 billion a year in income for Panama, BBC Business reported, noting it previously reduced transits during a last El Niño period in 2023.