Panama Canal Sees Revenue Beating Forecast After Hormuz Closure

By Michael McDonald

Jun 26, 2026 (Bloomberg) –The Panama Canal expects revenue to exceed its $5.2 billion forecast for fiscal 2026 after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz drove more ships through the waterway connecting the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Ilya Espino de Marotta, the Panama Canal Authority’s incoming chief, said in an interview Thursday that revenue for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 will come in “a little bit more” than the initial estimate, boosted by rising traffic and auction payments from vessels willing to skip the line. In April, one ship paid an extra $4