Panama Canal reduces Panamax booking slots due to low water levels (legrandcontinent.eu)

• Panamax lock daily bookings reduced from 36 to 34 ships (5.6%) starting July 25, 2026.
• Neo-Panamax locks for larger vessels remain unrestricted.
• Low Gatun Lake water levels due to strong El Niño; 2023–2024 saw similar cuts to 18 daily transits.

"Effective July 25, 2026, the Panama Canal Authority will reduce daily booking slots for Panamax locks from 36 to 34 ships, a 5.6% capacity cut, due to low water levels in Gatun Lake. Neo-Panamax locks are unaffected. The measure coincides with other maritime chokepoint disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, and is exacerbated by a strong El Niño event."