Statistics

The geographical position of Panama in the narrowest point of the Central American isthmus strategically connects the countries of the world especially those with commercial activities in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The accessibility provided by the Panama Canal competitively binds all global markets, mainly Asia, Europe, North and South America.

The main trade routes with traffic in the Panama Canal are:

• East Coast of U.S.A. and Asia (Far East)
• East Coast of U.S.A. and West Coast of South America
• Coast to Coast of South America
• Europe and West Coast of South America
• East Coast of U.S.A and West Coast of Central America

These main routes, along with others that use the waterway, reported for fiscal year 2023 a total of 510,370 PC/UMS[1] net tonnage, representing a decrease of 1.5% compared with fiscal year 2022.

Reference:

• Statistics of the Panama Canal traffic through main trade routes

[1] PC/UMS is the Panama Canal Universal Measurement System. This amount also includes the PC/UMS tonnages for container and passenger vessels.

The Panama Canal operates under a countinuous working schedule of 24 hours, 365 days. This means that the waterway is available for all ships willing to cross from one ocean to another. With an effective traffic scheduling system, the Canal ensures an expedite and secure transit of each vessel if the weather conditions, demand and own vessel’s technical conditions permit it.

For fiscal year 2024, the Panama Canal registered a total of 11,240 transits of deep and small commercial vessels that transported 210 million long tons of cargo, and generated total tolls that reached USD 3,381 million.

Oceangoing commercial traffic through the Panama Canal by month (FY 2021-2024)

• Statistics of the Panama Canal traffic 

A large number of goods transit the Panama Canal ranging from commodities and raw materials, manufactured and high tech products. The main goods that uses the waterway can be grouped into:

• Containerized cargo
• Coal
• Grains (main oats, corn, soybeans, rice, and other miscelaneous grains)
• Minerals and metals
• Crude oil and fuels
• Chemicals

Reference:

• Main commodities shipped through the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is committed to remain as an alternative for international trade by satisfying the needs of the maritime industry focusing in understanding the characteristics and needs of each market. This commitment ensures that the services provided by the Canal are adequate to the different segments, either for the toll rates or technical requirements that are demanded.

Part of the Corporate Mission of the Panama Canal is to build long-lasting relationships with the Canal users, adding value to their business and an outstanding quality service.

Among some of the Panama Canal users:

• American President Line
• CMA CGM
• China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company
• Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV)
• Evergreen Marine
• Hamburg-Sud
• Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (K-Line)
• Maersk Line
• Mediterranean Shipping Co.
• Mitsui O.S.K.
• Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK)
• Seatrade Reefer Chartering NV
• STX Pan Ocean Company LTD
• Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines
• Zim Israel Compañía de Navegación

The Panama Canal maintains all their users updated of the requirements, restrictions, security measures, and all kind of general and operational information that is necessary for the smooth operations of the transit activities and other marine services offered to the vessels.

Also, the Canal has available in its website the Monthly Canal Operations Summary under Notices to Shipping. These summaries have valuable information such as:

• Resources usage
• Traffic statistics, given in monthly average, maximum and minimum values of:
  • Arrivals
  • Canal water times (in hours)
  • In-Transit times (in hours)
  • Details of oceangoing transits
  • Booking slots
• Schedule of Canal infrastructure maintenance outages
• General information

This information is available in the following link:

https://pancanal.com/en/maritime-services/notices-to-shipping/