The Panama Canal will reduce the number of ships permitted to transit each day starting in September, as an unusually strong El Niño pattern drains rainfall needed to operate the waterway.
Daily crossings will drop from 36 to 34 on 3 September, then fall further to 32 on 15 September, authorities said. The restrictions are aimed at preserving freshwater reserves that power the canal's lock system.
Roughly 5% of global seaborne trade passes through the 80-kilometre route, making the cutbacks a significant concern for international shipping. The drought tied to El Niño has curbed precipitation across the region, threatening the water supply the canal depends on to function.