El Niño forces Panama Canal to slash daily transits

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:59:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Amid a strong El Niño, Panama Canal Authority cuts ships to 32 a day to preserve water, affecting global trade.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced on Thursday that vessels using the canal will be limited to 32 a day from 15 September, down from the usual 36. The decision comes as the region faces an intense El Niño, which is expected to bring lower rainfall and higher temperatures. The move aims to keep water supplies secure and ensure reliable service during a period already strained by shipping disruptions linked to the Iran‑war. From 3 September the new restrictions will take effect and represent a step toward long‑term sustainability for the canal’s operations. The waterway, which threads 14,000 vessels a year, generates roughly $3 bn for Panama, and last year the ACP cut traffic after an unusually dry October.

The Panama Canal will reduce daily vessel traffic to 32 a day beginning 15 September due to low rainfall caused by El Niño.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) informed shipping firms that the number of vessels allowed per day will fall from 36 to 32.

El Niño, a cyclical sea‑surface warming pattern, is expected to be especially strong this year, a trend amplified by climate change.

Shipping is already coping with major disruptions from the Iran war, which curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

ACP said the restriction will help maintain service reliability and protect water supplies for drinking.

Even though the rainy season is arriving in Central America and some water‑saving measures are already in place, additional action was deemed necessary to support long‑term operational sustainability.

The new measures will be implemented in stages starting 3 September.

By cutting traffic the canal preserves the water that allows it to move 14,000 ships per year around the world 24/7.

Each year the canal brings about $3 bn (£2.2 bn) in revenue to Panama.

In 2023 the ACP also reduced traffic during an El Niño, after Panama recorded its driest October since 1950.

Many forecasts predict that this year’s El Niño could be one of the strongest ever recorded, with widespread impacts on weather, food supplies and economies.