Panama Canal traffic surges amid Middle East conflict

Shipping through the Panama Canal has approached its maximum capacity as vessels reroute around the closed Hormuz Strait. Daily transits have risen to 36‑40, nearly the canal’s limit, after a surge in oil and liquefied natural gas tanker traffic. In April, the number of LNG tankers using the canal almost doubled compared with the previous year. Although the canal carries only about 5‑6 % of global maritime trade, its strategic importance has grown because of the Middle East war and increased demand for U.S. energy exports.

The heightened usage underscores the canal’s role as a critical chokepoint for global fuel supplies, prompting discussions about capacity and future infrastructure needs.