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The Panama Canal is reducing the number of slots available daily for transits of the waterway that links the Atlantic and the Pacific as the impact of El Niño starts to bite. From 3 September the number of slots available in the Neo-Panamax locks will be capped at nine and the Panamax locks at 25. Normally the maximum number of daily transits of the canal is around 38 in total so from 3 September this will be reduced to 34 and to 32 in total from 15 September.
Despite the arrival of the rainy season in Panama, and the water-saving measures implemented by the Panama Canal to mitigate the adverse effects of the El Niño event, current watershed conditions, including below-expected precipitation in the Canal watershed, require additional action to support the long-term sustainability of transit operations, the Panama Canal Authority stated.
From 15 September the number of slots for the Panamax locks will be reduced to 23.
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Daily auction slots are also being adjusted into four groups in a move that the ACP said is designed to balance the allocation of slots with the groups as follows:
- Group 1: LNG, LPG
- Group 2: Dry Bulk Carriers, General Cargo, Others
- Group 3: Container vessels, Vehicle Carriers / ro-ro, reefer
- Group 4: Chemical Tankers, Crude / Product Tankers
They are making these changes to manage demand.
The price paid for auction slots has already surged to as high as $4 million for a single transit in recent months as demand for Panama Canal transits has been high due to supply chain disruptions in other parts of the world. The latest measures announced for the Panama Canal will put further stress on supply chains already impacted by conflict in the Middle East and port congestion in Europe.
The canal authority said that individual customer limits for transits do not apply for auction slots and the Neo-Panamax locks full container ships with the highest capacity will be given priority in the booking process. Customer ranking will be used in the event of a tied bid.
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The Panama Canal plays a critical role in global trade, and any disruptions to its operations can have far-reaching consequences.
About the AuthorEditorMarcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd’s List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping’s most important topics.Conferences & WebinarsMarcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019TV & RadioMarcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you’ll find a list of selected appearancesKBS World Radio – Korea24, May 2026BBC News – Hindi Service, April 2026RNZ – First Up, April 2026
