World · 12 August 2026
Panama Canal fees soar as ships pay millions to skip queues
Photo by Victor Puente on Pexels
Shipping costs through the Panama Canal are rising sharply due to low water levels from the El Niño weather system. One container ship reportedly paid about $4 million to skip a 10-day line of vessels awaiting transit through the crucial trade route. The Panama Canal Authority, which manages the waterway, holds daily auctions for transit slots, with prices now hitting record highs.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs