Panama Canal News


Panama Canal Increase Daily Neopanamax Capacity to 10 Slots

Sep 28, 2026

The Panama Canal Authority said on Monday it will increase daily booking slots at its Neopanamax locks from 9 to 10 starting October 15, supported by 'improving water conditions and favorable hydrological projections', raising total daily capacity to 33 transit slots across all locks…

El Niño's Sting: Bulk Vessel Panama Canal Transits drop 22%

Sep 17, 2026

'Since the start of July, Panama Canal bulker transits have fallen 22% y/y. Bulkers have faced increased competition for transit slots from other sectors, especially tankers, as the US has boosted energy exports to Asia. El Niño is also expected to lead to lower water levels…

CK Hutchison Earnings Hit by Halted Panama Port Operations

Aug 13, 2026

CK Hutchison's cargo traffic and port earnings have been hit by a halt to operations in Panama, it said after posting half-year results, adding that little progress had been made on a $23 billion sale of most of its ports business.The conglomerate owned by Hong Kong's richest man…

Panama Canal Reduces Maximum Vessel Draft for Neopanamax Locks

Jun 05, 2026

The Panama Canal will reduce the maximum draft for vessels transiting its larger Neopanamax locks to 49.5 feet from 50 feet starting on July 3, as part of a water-management strategy aimed at safeguarding operations amid the risk of an El Niño weather pattern later this year…

Hormuz Disruption Drives Panama Canal Transits

May 21, 2026

'So far this year, ship transits via the Panama Canal have increased 8% y/y to a daily average of 38, driven by the tanker sector. Transits have been especially high during the past five weeks, rising 16% y/y, as US energy exports to the Pacific jumped…

Port Snared in US-China Dispute, says Panama President

May 01, 2026

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said his country maintains a positive relationship with China despite being caught up in a dispute between the Asian superpower and the U.S., and defended Panama's takeover of port contracts held by Hong Kong's CK Hutchison…

CK Hutchison's Panama Unit Files Arbitration Against Maersk

Apr 07, 2026

Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison's Panama unit has launched an arbitration against Maersk after the takeover of two strategic ports near the Panama Canal which are at the center of a legal battle that has embroiled Beijing and Washington…

CK Hutchison Says Panama Arbitration Claim Now Tops $2 Billion

Mar 24, 2026

A unit of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said on Tuesday it had widened its claims in an international arbitration case against Panama, saying damages had now risen to more than $2 billion.Panama Ports Company, which for nearly three decades…

US Crude Being Shipped to Asia Via Panama Canal

Mar 19, 2026

Asian refiners are increasingly sending medium-sized crude cargoes from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Asia through the Panama Canal as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupts trade flows, raises shipping costs and forces Asian refiners to hunt for alternative supplies…

CK Hutchison Says Panama Missed Arbitration Response Deadline

Mar 16, 2026

Panama Ports Company (PPC), a unit of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison 0001.HK, said on Monday that the Panamanian government failed to file its response by the March 13 deadline in an international arbitration brought by the company.PPC…

Report: COSCO Shipping Suspends Operations at Panama's Balboa Port

Mar 10, 2026

China's COSCO Shipping has suspended operations at Balboa port which is located at the entrance to the Panama Canal, according to local newspaper La Prensa, which published a notice to clients from the shipping and logistics conglomerate.Balboa…

Panama Canal Port Workers Threatened with Prosecution After Contract Anulments

Feb 24, 2026

Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said on Tuesday Panama authorities had threatened its employees with criminal prosecution if they refused to leave two strategic canal ports at the centre of a legal battle that has embroiled Beijing and Washington…

Panama Canal, USGBC Sign MOU to Enhance US Agricultural Trade

Feb 11, 2026

The Panama Canal and the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to strengthen their collaboration through the enhancement of global trade with U.S. agricultural products. Under the terms of the MOU…

CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration over Panama Canal Ports Contract Ruling

Feb 04, 2026

Hong Kong's CK Hutchison said on Wednesday its Panama Ports Company unit has started international arbitration proceedings against Panama after the country's top court annulled its licences to operate two Panama Canal ports, in a case that could take years to resolve…

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