Both the number of transits and the cost to pass the Panama Canal spiked in the past few months, according to the Panama Canal Authority.

The Canal said last week that it expects a further increase in shipments moving through the waterway, with this trend likely to continue until the situation in the Middle East is resolved.

In a statement to AFP, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that the average number of daily transits has “remained strong.”

It reported an average of 34 ships per day in January and 37 in March, with some days exceeding 40 transits through the waterway.

Media reports further mention that the Canal, since October, has recorded around 300 additional vessel crossings compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Heightened demand to use the Canal has also resulted in a sharp rise in the cost paid by vessels seeking to avoid delays.

An official report cited one liquefied natural gas carrier that paid USD 4 million to bypass the queue, avoiding a wait that can extend to five days. A surge in such priority payments has been recorded since late February 2026.

The authority said the increase reflects shifts in global trade patterns and market conditions that are influencing how shipments are routed.

These changes have supported sustained traffic levels through the Canal despite operational pressures.