Economy – The Panama Canal increases traffic after an improvement in the water level

First modification: 04/16/2024 – 17:37Last modification: 04/16/2024 – 17:38

A relief for global maritime traffic. The Panama Canal, which for several months had suffered low water levels due to the drought, announced that they are now prepared to begin a path to increasing the number of commercial users that transit one of the most important routes in the world. world.

The increase in ships will be progressive andIt is expected that between May 16 and 31, up to 31 ships per day will be able to transit and if the canal operates normally, traffic could increase by up to one more capacity starting June 1.

The restriction on the water depth of ships passing through the largest locks will increase in June by 13.71 meters, from the current 13.41 meters.

“These actions are taken after a series of analyzes based on the availability of water,” indicated the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in a statement, recalling that on March 20 they had anticipated that the canal could recover before February 2025 to the usual vessel levels.

The Central American country was able to reach this point after strict savings measures that the ACP took last year and that tightened the belt on global trade, as well as the increase in rains so far in the month of April.

The level of the reservoirs was reduced by the lack of rain due to the El Niño phenomenon, aggravated by global warming.

Inaugurated by the United States in 1914, the Panama Canal works with fresh water obtained from the artificial lakes of Gatún and Alhajuela, clients such as United States, China and Japan and it is estimated that 6% of world trade depends on this route.

In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Panamanian route had $3,344 million in income from vessel transit and the provision of services, a level that is expected to be decimated this year.

With AFP