Panama Canal cuts transit capacity as El Niño threatens fresh disruption to global trade
- Panama Canal to cut daily transits from 36 to 32 vessels by mid-September as drought conditions worsen
- New slot-allocation system introduced as waiting times and auction prices for priority passage surge
- Restrictions are adding pressure to global supply chains already disrupted by the Iran war and reduced Hormuz traffic
The Panama Canal will reduce daily transits from September as an intensifying El Niño drives rainfall sharply below average, raising the prospect of longer delays, higher costs and renewed disruption to global trade flows
