THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) recorded nearly 14,000 transits in the 2025/26 fiscal year and has reintroduced its last-minute reservation service.

The ACP revealed a 4.1% increase in transits through its locks in its fiscal year 2026 results, which runs from October to September.

In FY26, 13,951 separate journeys were made through the canal’s locks — up from 13,404 in FY25, which itself represented a big increase after the drought-affected 2023/24 period.

The growth, the ACP said, was driven by energy shipping segments and strong containership performance.

The neopanamax locks accounted for the majority of transits (52.2%), with tonnage moving through the locks increasing 8.2% year on year, which the ACP said reflects the increasing number of larger vessels using the waterway.

The canal recorded $6.6bn in revenue, an increase of 16.6% over the previous financial year.

This growth reflects the canal’s ability to “meet the demand of global maritime trade while continuing to adapt to the effects of El Niño”.

There were fears that the weather pattern would disrupt the canal in a similar fashion to 2023/24, when severe drought restricted transit slots significantly.

The ACP had reduced transit slots amid lower water levels, but successful water conservation measures and a return to average rainfall has seen draught increase and slots return.

The authority has reintroduced its last-minute reservation service, which gives vessels without a slot another chance at acquiring one at short notice, should it come available.