https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/panama-canal-to-reduce-shipping-as-el-ni-o-strikes-vital-routeContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/panama-canal-to-reduce-shipping-as-el-ni-o-strikes-vital-routehttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/panama-canal-to-reduce-shipping-as-el-ni-o-strikes-vital-route#u46756Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:11:17 +0000The Panama Canal is reducing the number of ships permitted to pass through the waterway due to extreme weather caused by El Nino. This restriction comes as drought conditions impact the vital route, forcing the canal to cap transits. The scarcity of slots has created a high-stakes environment for shipping companies, with at least one vessel paying $4 million to skip the transit line. These delays are placing additional pressure on the global trade network and the already stressed cold-chain ocean market.Why it mattersThe Panama Canal relies on freshwater levels to operate its locks. El Nino ty