Panama Canal to increase transit slots in September as rains come early
Adds administration's comments in paragraphs 7, 10, 12; projections in paragraphs 8, 13, 14
PANAMA CITY, July 30 (Reuters) - The Panama Canal expectsto increase the number of daily transit slots for vessels to 36 from the current 34 beginning in September, the canal's deputy administrator said, as rains allow authorities to ease drought-imposed restrictions.
Panama experienced its third-driest year on record in 2023, lowering the canal's water level and forcing its authorityto limit the number of vessels using the waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
At times, more than 100 ships at a time lined up and waited up to 21 days to use the canal, which is responsible for about 5% of global shipping.
"Now (the operation) is practically back to normal. We have 34 transits (per day) and on August 5 we will increase to 35 transits and ... in September we'll be able to increase to 36," Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino said in an interview on Monday.
"For now, we are on the right track," Espino said.
The early arrival of the rainy season in recent weeks has allowed authorities to increase the number of ships authorized to cross the canal.
"In the summer, the aim is not to have to reduce the number of transit slots, just the draft as we do every year (...) and to have normal transit activity from September," Espino added.
The Canal Authority expects this outlook to boost total revenues by 18% year-on-year to $5.6 billion during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which begins in October, with state contributions growing 13%.
COMPETITION?
Espino told Reuters that the canal would remain competitive even if projects aiming to connect the Atlantic and Pacific gain speed in Colombia and Mexico, projects she described as "complementary."
A transoceanic freight rail line in southern Mexico is among President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's signature economic development projects, while in Colombia a land corridor connecting the oceans has been debated for years.
"Here we have a very varied market, many segments that a land corridor does not have that flexibility or availability to move as many segments as we do," she added.
Espino said that the canal seeks to strengthen its operational competitiveness, although its priority is to seek new water sources.
To this end, the canal's authorities plan to build a new reservoir in six years at a cost of about $1.6 billion, which would provide the corridor with enough water to keep operating.
Panama Canal in talks with US LNG producers to increase transit nL1N3HC38R
Panama's president-elect vows to help fix canal water problems, build major train line nL1N3HB3V3
El Nino, water management issues blamed for snarling Panama Canal nL4N3H357G
FOCUS-Historic drought, hot seas slow Panama Canal shipping nL1N39S2HO
Reporting by Elida Moreno; Additional reporting by Diego Ore; Editing by Mark Porter and Nick Zieminski
Últimas noticias
Descargo de responsabilidades: Cada una de las entidades de XM Group proporciona un servicio de solo ejecución y acceso a nuestra plataforma de trading online, permitiendo a una persona ver o usar el contenido disponible en o a través del sitio web, sin intención de cambiarlo ni ampliarlo. Dicho acceso y uso están sujetos en todo momento a: (i) Términos y Condiciones; (ii) Advertencias de riesgo; y (iii) Descargo completo de responsabilidades. Por lo tanto, dicho contenido se proporciona exclusivamente como información general. En particular, por favor tenga en cuenta que, los contenidos de nuestra plataforma de trading online no son ni solicitud ni una oferta para entrar a realizar transacciones en los mercados financieros. Operar en cualquier mercado financiero implica un nivel de riesgo significativo para su capital.
Todo el material publicado en nuestra plataforma de trading online tiene únicamente fines educativos/informativos y no contiene –y no debe considerarse que contenga– asesoramiento ni recomendaciones financieras, tributarias o de inversión, ni un registro de nuestros precios de trading, ni una oferta ni solicitud de transacción con instrumentos financieros ni promociones financieras no solicitadas.
Cualquier contenido de terceros, así como el contenido preparado por XM, como por ejemplo opiniones, noticias, investigaciones, análisis, precios, otras informaciones o enlaces a sitios de terceros que figuran en este sitio web se proporcionan “tal cual”, como comentarios generales del mercado y no constituyen un asesoramiento en materia de inversión. En la medida en que cualquier contenido se interprete como investigación de inversión, usted debe tener en cuenta y aceptar que dicho contenido no fue concebido ni elaborado de acuerdo con los requisitos legales diseñados para promover la independencia en materia de investigación de inversiones y, por tanto, se considera como una comunicación comercial en virtud de las leyes y regulaciones pertinentes. Por favor, asegúrese de haber leído y comprendido nuestro Aviso sobre investigación de inversión no independiente y advertencia de riesgo en relación con la información anterior, al que se puede acceder aquí.
