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Friday, August 21Friday, August 21
The Panama Canal Authority announced on Thursday it will reduce daily ship crossings starting next month due to a severe drought linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has depleted water supplies critical to the canal’s operations.
From Sept. 3, the number of daily transits will drop from 36 to 34, and from Sept. 15, the limit will tighten further to 32 ships per day, according to the authority. The measures aim to preserve water levels in Gatun Lake, the freshwater reservoir that powers the canal’s lock system, which loses millions of gallons with each passage.
Rainfall from May to August was 34 percent below the historical average for the period, the authority stated, while water inflow into the canal’s basin fell by 44 percent. Forecasts indicate El Niño will persist through 2027, potentially worsening drought conditions. The canal already implemented water-saving measures in 2025, but officials said additional steps were necessary to ensure long-term sustainability.
The authority also delayed planned reductions to the maximum draft for Neopanamax locks, which determine how deeply ships can sit in the water. A draft limit of 14.63 meters, originally set for Aug. 26, was postponed to Sept. 2, and a further reduction to 14.48 meters was rescheduled to Oct. 1. Shallower drafts force vessels to carry less cargo to pass safely.
Separately, shipping data showed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low on Thursday, with only seven commodity vessels crossing the waterway, according to Reuters and Kpler data. Four entered and three exited, with no very large crude carriers recorded. Traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also slowed, with 23 ships crossing on Thursday compared to 34 on the previous two days.
The Panama Canal handles about 40 percent of U.S. container traffic and 5 percent of global maritime trade, according to AFP. Carriers have begun imposing surcharges of $200 to $1,000 per large container starting mid-September, Freightos reported, costs typically passed to importers and retailers.
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Panamský prieplav čakajú od septembra obmedzenia lodnej dopravy pre sucho Panamský prieplav zníži od septembra denný počet lodí pretrvávajúce sucho ohrozuje kľúčovú dopravnú tepnu a prináša tlak na svetový obchod.
aktuality.sk · about 2 hours ago
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france24 · about 2 hours ago
Hormuz ship crossings hover in single digits, data shows reut.rs/4qu4jEv
bluesky_Reuters · about 2 hours ago
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The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month because of drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon u.afp.com/SVk8
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aljazeera · about 3 hours ago
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de morgen · about 4 hours ago
Panama Canal cuts ship traffic due to drought The Panama Canal must reduce ship traffic due to drought caused by the weather phenomenon El Niño, reports the Panama Canal Authority. From September 3, the number of ships permitted to pass daily will be reduced from 36 to 34, and from September 15, to a maximum of 32 ships. Rainfall from May to August […]
cphpost · about 4 hours ago
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news.yahoo.com · about 4 hours ago
NEW - The Panama Canal is limiting cargo capacity twice in the coming weeks to lighten ships citing low water levels due to an El Niño drought, and with less freight moving per vessel, carriers are hiking surcharges to $1,000 per container. Read here: @disclosetv
telegram_Disclose.tv · about 4 hours ago
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news.yahoo.com · about 6 hours ago
⚡️🇵🇦 – The Panama Canal will reduce the volume of shipping allowed through the waterway due to an El Niño-related drought affecting the region, AFP News reports. Out of 36 ships currently allowed through per day, the number will fall to 32 from September 15. The Canal is vital for the U.S., since it handles around 40 of all U.S. container traffic, and 5 of the global maritime trade. @GeoPWatch
telegram_GeoPWatch · about 7 hours ago