Traffic snarls at the Panama Canal are intensifying, affecting trade and shipping worldwide. The recent figures depict a worrisome trend:
Vessel Backlog: As of Wednesday, 140 vessels were waiting at the Panama Canal, an increase from 130 just a day prior.
Waiting Times: 10-11 days average waiting time this month, a leap from 6-7 days the previous month.
Shippers are reeling under the pressure, forced to distribute products across multiple vessels, invariably escalating costs. Energy shipments face significant reroutes to avoid the canal, incurring additional delays.
In a move to mitigate these bottlenecks, the Panama Canal Authority has made provisions for more non-booked ships to transit. Still, the daily cap remains restricted to a maximum of 32 vessels, four less than usual. Recent rainfall hasn’t brought much relief, with weight limitations still in place due to a draft restriction of 44 feet, affecting several ship types, including tankers and bulk carriers.
Goods Impacted: The goods feeling the impact range from Halloween costumes and wares to fuels and chemicals.
Over 200 vessels 🚢 are stranded on both sides of the Panama Canal as an unprecedented drought and low water levels have prevented crossings. The canal handles about 40% of US container traffic.
Hi! I'm Adriana and I've been working for FreightCaviar as Head Writer for a little over a year now. Some of my favorite topics to cover are FreightTech, Green Freight, and nearshoring/reshoring.
The US labor market is showing signs of stabilization as the rate of voluntary job quitting approaches pre-pandemic levels and employers implement better retention strategies.
Explore the significant shift in global shipping as severe drought conditions in the Panama Canal compel dry bulk vessels, especially those carrying U.S. grain, to reroute through the Suez Canal.
