Panama Canal to cap daily ship transits amid El Niño water concerns

The Panama Canal Authority has announced it will impose a cap on the number of ships allowed to transit the canal each day starting in early September, in anticipation of a longer-than-usual El Niño weather pattern expected to reduce water levels.

According to a statement from the authority, the new measures will take effect on September 4, 2026, with a daily limit of 34 ships. This number will be further reduced to 32 ships per day from September 15.

The canal has averaged 35 daily transits up to June 2026, with a maximum capacity of around 40 crossings per day depending on shipping demand.

The authority also confirmed it does not plan to introduce additional restrictions on ship transits this year, noting that proactive steps have been taken to conserve water levels since 2025.