Panama Canal transits recorde tonnage

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported on Thursday, October 28, a record tonnage, exceeding by 10% what was achieved in 2019.

Fiscal year 2021 closed with an annual record of 516.7 million tons CP / UMS (Universal Canal Shipment System).

This figure represents an 8.7% increase compared to the fiscal year 2020 and 10% above the tonnage accounted for in 2019, the last fiscal year before the pandemic.

The records achieved come in a year marked by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, as interruptions caused container rates to increase and production to slow in various sectors due to a shortage of raw materials.

It was reported that 184.3 million PC / UMS tons were registered in the container ship line, an increase of 2% in tonnage compared to 2020.

This was followed by bulk carriers (90 million tons CP / UMS), chemical tankers (65 million, LNG (61 million), and LPG (52.8 million).

Despite the interruptions in the supply chain, LNG vessels increased 31.4% in tonnage through the Canal, which represents the highest increase among all segments.

On vehicle carriers, growth was reported in fiscal 2021, but they have not yet fully recovered from the effects of the pandemic. In addition, a similar situation occurred with passenger ships, a segment that is expected to gradually return through the interoceanic route in 2022.

The ACP also registered a total of 13,342 vessel transits in the fiscal year 2021, with Neopanamax vessels as the main support.