The Panama Canal is operating at full capacity, handling between 36 and 38 ships a day, as more LNG carriers are choosing this route due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Canal administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said on March 20, 2026, that demand has increased mainly from ships loading liquefied natural gas at U.S. ports.
The situation in the Middle East has forced many vessels to change their routes.
The Strait of Hormuz, which is a key route for oil and gas exports from countries like Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, has been shut.
At the same time, many shipowners are avoiding the Suez Canal due to safety concerns.
Because of this, the Panama Canal is now being used more to move cargo, especially LNG, to different parts of the world.
Traffic through the canal was already rising before the conflict began around three weeks ago, but the current situation has pushed it even higher.
Authorities are now planning
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