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Panama Canal traffic increased in Dec, however waterway still has empty slots

The typical number of vessels that passed through the Panama Canal in December increased to 34.2 per day, according to a notification from its authority seen on Monday, but the waterway did not fill all the slots available, a. indication that some ships continue taking alternative routes.

The canal, the world's second busiest and the only. interoceanic way that runs with freshwater, between August. and September raised passage restrictions following a severe. drought that forced a limit to day-to-day transits and vessel drafts.

The Panama Canal Authority had actually been expecting a return to. the complete allocation of 36 transits per day, particularly throughout. peak durations, such as the last quarter of the year. But the open. slots show lots of shippers have actually kept to their alternative routes.

In November, an average of 33.3 vessels transited through. the waterway per day, while the average for October was 31.4. ships daily.

The canal's authority did not instantly reply to a request. for comment.

Some vessels, including bulk providers and liquefied natural. gas (LNG) tankers, have actually continued using alternative routes when. the expense of travelling through Panama matches the additional fuel they. must utilize to travel around the capes of Horn or Great Intend To. transit between the Americas and Asia.

The canal's boost in passage fees in the last years,. something U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has just recently. complained about, has been a problem with some products. manufacturers and shippers, say experts. Trump recently stated he did. not eliminate utilizing military or economic action to take control of the. canal.

In the that ended in September, the canal. reported a 5% reduction in its toll profits to $3.18 billion,. regardless of big declines in tonnage dealt with and the overall number. of vessels that went through.

In between the 2020 and 2023 , the canal's toll. earnings had actually increased nearly 26% to $3.35 billion, according to. its yearly reports.

The canal has stated it anticipates in this to accomplish. an annual tonnage near to the 511 million loads it managed in. 2023, and see approximately 12,582 deep-draft vessel transits in between. the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

(source: Reuters)