Home · Science · Aug 21 archive
Panama Canal Limits Ship Traffic Due to Drought
Confirmed
In Short: Starting September 3, the Panama Canal will reduce the number of ships passing through due to drought caused by El Niño, impacting global shipping routes.
The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month due to a lack of rainfall as the El Niño weather pattern takes hold over the region, the canal operator said on Thursday.
From September 3, the waterway will allow 34 ships to pass through it, instead of the current 36, the Panama Canal Authority said. This number will drop to 32 from September 15.
Rainfall between May and August was about 34% below the historical average for the period, the canal operator said. Steven Paton, who runs the monitoring network, added that some stations are reporting record or near-record low values, particularly around the canal.
So far this August, roughly half of gas carriers heading to Asia have chosen the Cape of Good Hope over the Panama Canal, he said, adding that this is the highest share in a decade. Clarksons Securities said in a research note that 'El Niño is now emerging as a key risk' for a sector already grappling with capacity constraints and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month due to a lack of rainfall as the El Nino weather pattern takes hold over the region, the canal operator said on Thursday.
- From September 3, the waterway will allow 34 ships to pass through it, instead of the current 36, the Panama Canal Authority said.
- From September 15, the number of ships allowed to pass through it will drop to 32.
- Rainfall between May and August was about 34% below the historical average for the period, the canal operator said.
- "Rainfall during the same period in most of Panama was well below average," said Steven Paton, who runs the monitoring network, adding that some stations are reporting record or near-record low values, particularly…
- It echoes the 2023-24 measures, when drought cut daily transits to as few as 22 ships, according to official figures.
- So far this August, roughly half of gas carriers heading to Asia have chosen the Cape of Good Hope over the Panama Canal, he said, adding that this is the highest share in a decade.
- Clarksons Securities said in a research note that "El Niño is now emerging as a key risk" for a sector already grappling with capacity constraints and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. (Reuters - Reporting by…