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The Panama Canal had a daily average of 37 transits in May for a total of 1,147, according to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). For comparison, there were 35 transits per day in February for a total of 981 before the Hormuz crisis.
In the first week of June, the average waiting time for ships without reservations to cross the Panama Canal was eight to 10 days, while those with reservations suffered delays of two to three days. The canal is now as congested as it was in 2024, when a devastating drought subsided.
In relation to El Niño, the ACP advises that it does not forecast the need for transit restrictions through Dec. 31. But they appear more cautious for 2027. The ACP has initiated a range of water-saving measures which includes two small vessels using the same lock at the same time and a temporary suspension of hydroelectric generation at Gatun.
