Canal tonnage up 9.5% over previous year

The Panama Canal closed the fiscal year 2018  (Oct. 1, 2017 – Sep. 30, 2018) with a record of 442.1 million ton transited, an increase of 9.5% compared to the previous year, reports the Canal Authority (ACP).

The increase was driven, in particular, by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural liquefied gas (LNG), container ships, chemical tankers, and vehicle carriers.

The 429.4 million CP / SUAB tonnes projected for 2018 were exceeded, as was 2017 tonnage that ended with 403.8 million CP / SUAB tons.

“The Panama Canal continues to exceed our expectations, reinforcing more and more the

importance of the expansion of the interoceanic highway and its impact on global maritime trade, due to the efforts of all our collaborators that have made this an extraordinary year” said ACP administrator Jorge Luis Quijano.