By: Staff Writer
October 27, 2026
Panama Canal sees record cargo as the Strait of Hormuz was driven to closure amid the turmoil in the Middle East.
Despite traffic restrictions caused by El Niño drought conditions, according to the canal’s administrator and official figures released Wednesday. The waterway, which carries 5 percent of global maritime trade, handled 521 million metric tons of cargo aboard nearly 14,000 ships during the fiscal year that ended September 30, according to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
During FY2026 the Panama Canal handled 13,951 transits up 4.1 percent from 13,404 in FY2025. Growth was driven by energy shipping segments and strong containership performance.
Cargo transported in FY 2006 reached 521 million PC/UMS (Panama Canal Universal Measurement System) tonnes, an increase of 6.5 percent from 489.2 million PC/UMS tonnes the previous fiscal year.
Total revenue for FY 2026 reached $6.6 billion, an increase of 16.6 percent over the previous fiscal year. These unaudited figures reflect strong financial discipline and will support investment in strategic projects that will shape the future of the canal, said the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in a statement.
Traffic through the Neopanamax locks accounted for 52.2% of total tonnage, with volumes increasing 8.2% year over year, reflecting growing demand from larger vessels.
The ACP attributed the results partly to changes in international trade flows and improved operating conditions. The Canal maintained a maximum authorized draft of 50 feet throughout the dry season, supporting vessel movements despite ongoing challenges associated with water availability and the El Niño phenomenon.
Financial performance also strengthened, with total revenue projected at 6.6 billion balboas (approximately $6.6 billion), up 16.6% from FY2025. The figures remain subject to audit.
During a presentation of the results on October 21, Canal officials also provided updates on the water management strategy and initiatives under the Canal’s Vision 2025–2035, including the Rio Indio Lake Project, aimed at strengthening long-term water availability.