US EditionThe Panama Canal's other conflict: Water security for the population and the global economy
- The Panama Canal, a crucial waterway for approximately 7% of global trade, faced operational challenges due to droughts in 2023-2024, leading to transit limitations.
- Recurring droughts and low water levels in Gatun Lake, exacerbated by rising temperatures, prompted the Panama Canal Authority to seek solutions for securing the canal's water supply.
- To maintain canal operations, the Panama Canal Authority limited daily transits to 22 in December 2023, significantly lower than the usual 36 to 38, and approved plans in January 2025 to construct a new dam on the Indio River.
- The Panama Canal Authority estimated potential monthly losses of $100 million due to reduced ship traffic from the water shortage and implemented measures like raised prices and auctioned transit opportunities to mitigate financial impact.
- The planned dam, designed to ensure the canal's future water security, is projected to displace over 2,000 people and submerge farming communities, raising concerns among residents about losing homes, livelihoods, and ancestral communities, while innovative solutions respecting both ecosystem limits and population needs are advocated.
4 Articles
4 Articles
The Panama Canal's other conflict: Water security for the population and the global economy
The Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world, with about 7% of global trade passing through. It also relies heavily on rainfall. Without enough freshwater flowing in, the canal's locks can't raise and lower ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Droughts mean fewer ships per day, and that can quickly affect Panama's finances and economies around the world.
Analysing Panama, Suez, and post-panamax dimensions and their impact on ship design and global trade dynamics
In an era where over 80% of global trade by volume and over 70% by value is transported by sea (UNCTAD, 2023), maritime logistics remains the lifeblood of international commerce. Central to this system are critical maritime chokepoints—narrow passages like the Panama and Suez Canals—that act as gatekeepers for global shipping efficiency. These canals are […] The post Analysing Panama, Suez, and post-panamax dimensions and their impact on ship de…
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