The Panama Canal Cuts Ship Traffic Amidst El Niño's Fury The Panama Canal is about to become a more congested artery of global trade.
Due to the effects of El Niño, which promises to be one of the strongest on record, the canal's operator will reduce the number of ships passing through its locks by six vessels per day from September 15th.
This decision highlights the vulnerability of even the world's most important trade routes to natural phenomena. The Panama Canal handles over 14,000 vessels annually, generating $3 billion in revenue for Panama alone.