The Panama Canal administration announced that from September 3, the number of ships allowed to pass through the canal daily will decrease from 36 to 34 due to low water levels in two artificial lakes that feed the canal.
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The agency stated that from September 15, this number will decrease to 32.
Central America is currently suffering from a severe drought caused by El Niño – a meteorological phenomenon that raises surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, causing global changes in winds, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation.
The administration indicated that rainfall in the canal area from May to August decreased by 34% compared to the historical average, adding that El Niño could reduce it even further.
5% of the world’s maritime trade passes through the canal
About 5% of global maritime trade passes through the Panama Canal, and around 40% of US container traffic is transported through it.
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The canal operator stated that the “lower than forecasted rainfall in the canal basin” requires measures to strengthen the waterway’s “long-term sustainability.” The company has already implemented other water-saving measures, such as reducing the maximum draft of the largest ships.
It is worth mentioning that in 2023, the water level in the lakes feeding the canal was so low that the canal operator reduced the daily number of ship transits from 38 to 22.
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