Panama Canal Tonnage Rises 6.5% as Revenue Hits $6.6 Billion
The Panama Canal recorded 13,951 transits in fiscal year 2026, up 4.1%, with tonnage of 521 million PC/UMS tons and revenues of $6.6 billion, as water restrictions returned from July.
The Panama Canal recorded tonnage of 521 million PC/UMS tons and revenues of $6.6 billion in fiscal year 2026, with 13,951 transits, according to World Cargo News.
\nThe number of transits rose 4.1%, tonnage increased 6.5% and revenues rose 16.6%, with giant Neopanamax-class vessels accounting for 52.2% of total tonnage.
\nThe canal maintained a maximum draft of 50 feet during the dry season, but water restrictions returned starting July 2026, putting pressure on future vessel traffic.
\nThe Panama Canal is a vital corridor for trade between Asia and the American coasts, and its capacity to accommodate large vessels is linked to water levels in the lakes that supply it—levels affected by drought and climate conditions.
\nWhat do these terms mean?
\nNeopanamax: A class of large ships designed specifically to pass through the expanded locks of the Panama Canal.
\nDraft: The distance between the surface of the water and the lowest point of the ship's hull; the deeper the draft, the deeper the water the ship requires.
\nCanal Tonnage: A specific unit of tonnage for the Panama Canal based on vessel volume, used in traffic and revenue statistics.
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