Panama Canal's drought to raise US shipping bottlenecks and inflation

Posted on June 9, 2023   |  

An extreme reduction in water levels at Gatun Lake spiked surcharges and weight limits for vessels transiting the canal.

The canal can be required to restrict the daily number of ships in transit from 36 to 28-32. 

The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) executed several measures to reduce the impact of the drought while maintaining maritime operations in the canal. 

The PCA reduced the canal’s draft limit to 44.5 feet, which is likely to decline again on 13 June to 44 feet.