El Niño Reduces Panama Canal Vessel Transits
PANAMA CITY, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 21st Aug, 2026) The Panama Canal Authority has announced new measures to manage its water supplies due to the risk posed by the El Niño climate phenomenon.
New Measures for Water Management
- From early September, the canal will impose a maximum limit of 34 daily transits.
- This number will be reduced to 32 vessels from 15th September.
Average daily transits through the canal (June 2026) stood at 35 vessels, in line with demand, while the canal has capacity for around 40 transits per day.
The Authority noted that rainfall between May and August was 34% below normal levels, and inflows into the watershed were 44% below average. They warned that the expected intensity of El Niño during the 2026-2027 season could further reduce rainfall, threatening the long-term sustainability of the waterway and domestic water supplies.
