WEB DESK: The Panama Canal moved a record 521 million tons of cargo during the fiscal year ending in September, as shipping patterns shifted after the Strait of Hormuz closed amid the Middle East war, canal officials told AFP.
Nearly 14,000 vessels transited the waterway, which carries about five percent of global maritime trade. Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta said traffic surged during the year, prompting the canal to temporarily raise its daily transit limit from 36 ships to 41.
Drought has since forced a reduction to 32 daily transits. The canal relies on freshwater from two artificial lakes, whose levels have fallen amid unusually dry conditions linked to a strong El Niño.
Espino de Marotta said the canal had managed to accommodate increased demand despite the climate pressures. The previous cargo record was 518 million tons, set in fiscal 2022.
