Global Energy Routes Shift Amid Mideast War: Oil and Gas Tanker Traffic Explodes at the Panama Canal
Surge in U.S. crude and LNG to Asia turns the Panama Canal into a key wartime energy artery.
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A surge of oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers is crowding the Panama Canal, as shifting global energy routes driven by conflict in the Middle East push the strategic waterway to near-maximum capacity. Videos circulating online this week show long lines of vessels waiting to transit the canal after loading crude oil and gas shipments from US Gulf Coast ports, underscoring a sharp rise in traffic bound for Asia.
The queue of ships crossing Panama Canal as of 6.35am Asia time, April 17, 2026.
Canal authorities say daily transits have climbed to between 36 and 38 vessels, above earlier projections, with energy shipments accounting for much of the increase. Reuters reported that demand has been particularly strong among LNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers transporting US exports to Asian markets. The congestion follows disruptions linked to tensions between Iran and the United States, including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping route.
