Panama Canal extends transit restrictions through Sept. 2

The Panama Canal Authority on Wednesday notified shippers it is extending through September 2 restrictions for vessels to transit through the waterway and keeping the number of vessels authorized to pass per day to a maximum of 32.
The Canal restrictions, implemented in recent months as the rainy season in Panama has come late this year, could add more pressure on consumer goods prices, according to maritime firms and experts, as delays and extra fees add to shipping costs.
The Panama Canal is key for moving consumer goods from sia to the United States, especially ahead of peak selling seasons like Christmas. It also allows faster transportation of U.S. commodities to Asia and South America’s Pacific Coast.
On Wednesday, there were a total of 131 vessels with and without reservations lining up to transit the drought-hit waterway, fewer than the 161 ships reported a week ago, according to official statistics.