July 29, 2026
Panama Canal reports higher transit volumes and cargo tonnage
The Panama Canal reported higher transit volumes and cargo tonnage during the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (October 2025-June 2026), while continuing to adapt its operations to meet global shipping demand in anticipation of a severe El Niño event.
As of June 30, FY2026, the Panama Canal averaged 35 daily transits, with a total of 10,726 transits during the current fiscal year (October-June), a 5.2% increase from the 10,191 transits recorded during the same period in FY2025.
During the same period, the canal handled 389.96 million Panama Canal Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tons, up 7.2% from 363.66 million PC/UMS tons during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
The Panama Canal noted that the probability of a severe El Niño event has increased, rising significantly from 25% in April to 81%, as of July. As a result, the Panama Canal continues to closely monitor weather conditions and stands ready to implement preventive measures based on lessons learned during the 2023-2024 El Niño event.
Source: Panama Canal Authority