Panama Canal cuts daily booking slots to 34 from Sept 3 and 32 from Sept 15

Summary

The Panama Canal Authority said on 20 August it will cut daily lock slots to nine Neopanamax and 25 Panamax transits from 3 September, then to 23 Panamax from 15 September, taking total daily capacity to 34 and then 32 vessels. It will also regroup daily auction slots, with Neopanamax supers split into four categories led by LNG and LPG. Asia-US East Coast shippers should expect tighter bookings and further September surcharges.