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Panama Canal Traffic Rises Amid Middle East Tensions

3/31/2026

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Story summary
  • The Panama Canal handles 5% of maritime trade and daily passages rose from 34 to 38–40 due to the Middle East conflict.
  • Ilya Espino de Marotta, the canal's deputy administrator, attributed the rise to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz affecting oil exports.
  • She cautioned this traffic level is unsustainable.
  • She noted a potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment resurgence after a decline tied to the war in Ukraine.