The Panama Canal marked 112 years since it opened on Aug. 15, with vessel traffic recovering after the severe drought that disrupted operations in 2023 and 2024. But the waterway is again facing pressure on its freshwater supply as El Niño strengthens.
The canal recorded 10,623 deep-draft vessel transits in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2026, according to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). That was 6.1% higher than the 10,010 transits recorded during the same period a year earlier.
The increase means 613 more vessels used the canal between October 2025 and July 2026, showing stronger demand for the route after drought-related restrictions affected shipping in the previous two years.
At the same time, the ACP has started reducing the maximum draft allowed for Neopanamax vessels as water levels in Gatun Lake fall.
The maximum authorised draft was 49.5 feet in early July. It was reduced to 49 feet on July 24 and 48.5 feet
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