https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/panama-canal-to-cap-ship-transits-due-to-el-nino-droughtContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/panama-canal-to-cap-ship-transits-due-to-el-nino-droughthttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/panama-canal-to-cap-ship-transits-due-to-el-nino-drought#u47258Mon, 24 Aug 2026 07:12:20 +0000The Panama Canal is reducing the number of ships allowed to transit the waterway due to drought conditions caused by El Nino. Extreme weather is forcing the canal to limit shipping traffic to manage water levels. This restriction creates a bottleneck for global trade and increases pressure on the cold-chain ocean market. Demand for passage remains high, with at least one vessel paying $4 million to bypass the standard queue.Why it mattersThe Panama Canal is a vital route for international shipping connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. El Nino typically brings drier conditions to the regi