Panama Canal cuts ship traffic as El Niño threatens water supplies | Africanews (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies//)  (http://fr.africanews.com/2026/08/27/le-trafic-maritime-sur-le-canal-de-panama-perturbe-par-la-secheresse//)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies//)                                (http://www.africanews.com/amp/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)  (index.html)  (https://sdk.privacy-center.org) (https://fonts.googleapis.com)  (index.html)  (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png?v=3) (../../../../favicon-32x32.png@v=3) (../../../../android-chrome-192x192.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-96x96.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-16x16.png@v=3) (../../../../manifest.json@v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/safari-pinned-tab.svg?v=3)   (RSS - Business) (http://www.africanews.com/feed/rss?themes=business)  (../../../../css/lightslider.min.css)  (../../../../css/lightgallery.min.css)  (../../../../css/main.css)     (index.html#start-of-content) Skip to main content   Welcome to Africanews Please select your experience     (http://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                (http://www.africanews.com/live/) (Africanews)        (en) En (fr) Fr    Business  Join us (https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/)      (https://twitter.com/africanews)      (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews)    (https://www.youtube.com/c/africanews)      (https://www.linkedin.com/company/africanews?trk=biz-companies-cym)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en)                 (http://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News   (http://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business   (http://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport   (http://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture   (http://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology   (http://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment   (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/) (Programmes) Programmes   (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcast/) (Podcast) Podcast    (http://www.africanews.com/live/)  Live   (http://www.africanews.com/weather/)    (Search ...)             (http://www.africanews.com/weather/) weather  Close (index.html#)         (Search ...)     Watch Live     (http://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News  (http://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business  (http://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport  (http://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture  (http://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology  (http://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment  (http://www.africanews.com/programmes) (Programmes) Programmes  (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcast/) (Podcast) Podcast   (http://www.africanews.com/weather) (Weather) Weather      Breaking
                News  Close (index.html#)       (index.html#)  Just In (share_on_your_website) (share_on_your_website) Copy/paste the script below  (<iframe src="http://www.africanews.com/embed/timeline/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="min-height:500px; width:100%; height:100%;"></iframe>)  (http://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) OTHER WIDGETS       August 28, 2026  00:56   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/hundreds-gather-in-oslo-to-support-norways-king-harald-v/) (Hundreds gather in Oslo to support Norway’s King Harald V) Hundreds gather in Oslo to support Norway’s King Harald V      00:24   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/catastrophic-nepal-floods-and-landslides-in-nuwakot-leave-hundreds-still-missing/) (Catastrophic Nepal floods and landslides in Nuwakot leave hundreds still missing) Catastrophic Nepal floods and landslides in Nuwakot leave hundreds still missing     August 27, 2026  21:05   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/most-tunisian-regions-on-high-alert-amid-second-extreme-heatwave/) (Most Tunisian regions on high alert amid second extreme heatwave) Most Tunisian regions on high alert amid second extreme heatwave     Advertising     20:01   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/china-video-shows-mudslide-surging-through-gyirong-port/) (China: Video shows mudslide surging through Gyirong port) China: Video shows mudslide surging through Gyirong port      18:20   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/former-bosnian-serb-ratko-mladic-convicted-of-genocide-dies-aged-84/) (Former Bosnian Serb Ratko Mladic convicted of genocide dies aged 84) Former Bosnian Serb Ratko Mladic convicted of genocide dies aged 84      18:16   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/qatars-foreign-minister-visits-tehran-as-efforts-to-ease-iran-us-crisis-continue/) (Qatar’s foreign minister visits Tehran as efforts to ease Iran-U.S. crisis continue) Qatar’s foreign minister visits Tehran as efforts to ease Iran-U.S. crisis continue      17:33   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/senegal-ruling-party-pastef-presses-government-over-2027-local-elections/) (Senegal ruling party Pastef presses government over 2027 local elections) Senegal ruling party Pastef presses government over 2027 local elections      17:13   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/opposition-urges-african-union-to-intervene-in-zambias-disputed-election/) (Opposition urges African Union to intervene in Zambia's disputed election) Opposition urges African Union to intervene in Zambia's disputed election      16:54   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/south-africa-family-murder-suspect-ndodana-tshuma-remanded-until-september/) (South Africa: Family murder suspect Ndodana Tshuma remanded until September) South Africa: Family murder suspect Ndodana Tshuma remanded until September      16:26   (index.html) (Panama Canal cuts ship traffic as El Niño threatens water supplies) Panama Canal cuts ship traffic as El Niño threatens water supplies      16:21   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/rescuers-search-for-survivors-follow-catastrophic-flash-floods-in-nepal/) (Rescuers search for survivors follow catastrophic flash floods in Nepal) Rescuers search for survivors follow catastrophic flash floods in Nepal      16:12   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/tanzanias-political-crisis-deepens-after-vp-resignation/) (Tanzania’s political crisis deepens after VP resignation) Tanzania’s political crisis deepens after VP resignation      15:55   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/russias-overnight-drone-barrage-ignites-fires-across-ukrainian-cities/) (Russia’s overnight drone barrage ignites fires across Ukrainian cities) Russia’s overnight drone barrage ignites fires across Ukrainian cities     Advertising       View more          (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/business/) Business    (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/business/) (business)  Panama Canal cuts ship traffic as El Niño threatens water supplies         (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (https://twitter.com/home?status=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (mailto:?subject=Panama Canal cuts ship traffic as El Niño threatens water supplies&body=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (whatsapp://send?text=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)      A ship transits the Pedro Miguel Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) -  Copyright © africanews  Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved    (https://twitter.com/africanews) By Rédaction Africanews and AP    Last updated: 14 hours ago    (http://www.africanews.com/country/panama/) Panama    The Panama Canal is expected to reduce daily ship transits in September as authorities prepare for an unusually early dry season and lower rainfall linked to El Niño,. The waterway, which handles about 5% of global maritime trade, normally sees between 36 and 38 ships pass each day.  Canal administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said the dry season, normally expected to begin in December, could start at least a month earlier, and rainfall during the normally wet months of October and November was expected to be below average.  From Sept. 3, the canal will offer 34 daily transit slots before reducing the number to 32 from Sept. 15, the most significant restrictions since a drought in 2023 and 2024 forced authorities to sharply limit traffic. Steve Paton of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute said rainfall in the canal watershed since April had reached only about two-thirds of the average and was trending downward.      "The lake level will continue to drop and drop when it should be rising," Paton said, warning that lower rainfall could limit both the frequency of ship traffic and the maximum draft allowed through the canal. Panama Canal authorities are trying to preserve enough freshwater to maintain operations through a dry season that could last about five months, until rains are expected to return in April or May 2027.  "The water we have - the water we hope to have and that we monitor day by day - is the water we are striving to preserve and use more effectively so that we can provide the best possible service to our customers," Vásquez said. Ships without confirmed reservations could face longer waits as the canal reorganizes auctions for available transit slots.  An auction this month reached a record $5.3 million for a Sept. 1 passage, according to a Panamanian maritime industry official who was not authorized to provide the information, compared with $50,000 to $100,000 under normal conditions. Paton said the El Niño event was expected to bring unusually high Pacific temperatures and reduced rainfall, putting further pressure on the canal's water reserves.     You may also like     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/ecowas-will-the-eco-finally-become-a-reality-in-2027-business-africa/) (Ecowas : will the ECO finally become a reality in 2027?  [Business Africa])  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/ecowas-will-the-eco-finally-become-a-reality-in-2027-business-africa/)   11:19          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/ecowas-will-the-eco-finally-become-a-reality-in-2027-business-africa/) Ecowas : will the ECO finally become a reality in 2027?  [Business Africa]     15 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/26/kenyan-farmers-use-fertiliser-made-by-bugs-to-reverse-soil-degradation/) (Kenyan farmers use fertiliser made by bugs to reverse soil degradation)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/26/kenyan-farmers-use-fertiliser-made-by-bugs-to-reverse-soil-degradation/)   02:35          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/26/kenyan-farmers-use-fertiliser-made-by-bugs-to-reverse-soil-degradation/) Kenyan farmers use fertiliser made by bugs to reverse soil degradation     26/08 - 16:31       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/20/us-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-dollars-for-first-time/) (US national debt tops 40 trillion dollars for first time)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/20/us-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-dollars-for-first-time/)   00:52          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/20/us-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-dollars-for-first-time/) US national debt tops 40 trillion dollars for first time     20/08 - 17:23         From the same country     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/03/13/panama-canal-poised-to-benefit-as-war-in-middle-east-disrupts-oil-routes/) (Panama Canal poised to benefit as war in Middle East disrupts oil routes)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/03/13/panama-canal-poised-to-benefit-as-war-in-middle-east-disrupts-oil-routes/)   01:47          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/03/13/panama-canal-poised-to-benefit-as-war-in-middle-east-disrupts-oil-routes/) Panama Canal poised to benefit as war in Middle East disrupts oil routes     13/03 - 10:14       (http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/11/panama-rejects-pentagon-chiefs-idea-of-us-bases-on-its-soil/) (Panama rejects Pentagon chiefs idea of US bases on its soil)  (http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/11/panama-rejects-pentagon-chiefs-idea-of-us-bases-on-its-soil/)   01:10          (http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/11/panama-rejects-pentagon-chiefs-idea-of-us-bases-on-its-soil/) Panama rejects Pentagon chiefs idea of US bases on its soil     11/04/2025       (http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/09/panama-releases-dozens-of-detained-deportees-from-us/) (Panama releases dozens of detained deportees from U.S.)  (http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/09/panama-releases-dozens-of-detained-deportees-from-us/)   03:13          (http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/09/panama-releases-dozens-of-detained-deportees-from-us/) Panama releases dozens of detained deportees from U.S.     09/03/2025        (http://www.africanews.com/country/panama/) View more    Share   (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (https://twitter.com/home?status=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (mailto:?subject=Panama Canal cuts ship traffic as El Niño threatens water supplies&body=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)    (whatsapp://send?text=http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/panama-canal-cuts-ship-traffic-as-el-nino-threatens-water-supplies/)        More About  (http://www.africanews.com/tag/panama/) (Panama) Panama   (http://www.africanews.com/tag/panama-canal/) (Panama Canal) Panama Canal   (http://www.africanews.com/tag/shipping/) (Shipping) Shipping              You may also like     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/ecowas-will-the-eco-finally-become-a-reality-in-2027-business-africa/) (Ecowas : will the ECO finally become a reality in 2027?  [Business Africa])  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/ecowas-will-the-eco-finally-become-a-reality-in-2027-business-africa/)   11:19          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/ecowas-will-the-eco-finally-become-a-reality-in-2027-business-africa/) Ecowas : will the ECO finally become a reality in 2027?  [Business Africa]     15 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/26/kenyan-farmers-use-fertiliser-made-by-bugs-to-reverse-soil-degradation/) (Kenyan farmers use fertiliser made by bugs to reverse soil degradation)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/26/kenyan-farmers-use-fertiliser-made-by-bugs-to-reverse-soil-degradation/)   02:35          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/26/kenyan-farmers-use-fertiliser-made-by-bugs-to-reverse-soil-degradation/) Kenyan farmers use fertiliser made by bugs to reverse soil degradation     26/08 - 16:31       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/20/us-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-dollars-for-first-time/) (US national debt tops 40 trillion dollars for first time)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/20/us-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-dollars-for-first-time/)   00:52          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/20/us-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-dollars-for-first-time/) US national debt tops 40 trillion dollars for first time     20/08 - 17:23         From the same country     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/03/13/panama-canal-poised-to-benefit-as-war-in-middle-east-disrupts-oil-routes/) (Panama Canal poised to benefit as war in Middle East disrupts oil routes)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/03/13/panama-canal-poised-to-benefit-as-war-in-middle-east-disrupts-oil-routes/)   01:47          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/03/13/panama-canal-poised-to-benefit-as-war-in-middle-east-disrupts-oil-routes/) Panama Canal poised to benefit as war in Middle East disrupts oil routes     13/03 - 10:14       (http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/11/panama-rejects-pentagon-chiefs-idea-of-us-bases-on-its-soil/) (Panama rejects Pentagon chiefs idea of US bases on its soil)  (http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/11/panama-rejects-pentagon-chiefs-idea-of-us-bases-on-its-soil/)   01:10          (http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/11/panama-rejects-pentagon-chiefs-idea-of-us-bases-on-its-soil/) Panama rejects Pentagon chiefs idea of US bases on its soil     11/04/2025       (http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/09/panama-releases-dozens-of-detained-deportees-from-us/) (Panama releases dozens of detained deportees from U.S.)  (http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/09/panama-releases-dozens-of-detained-deportees-from-us/)   03:13          (http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/09/panama-releases-dozens-of-detained-deportees-from-us/) Panama releases dozens of detained deportees from U.S.     09/03/2025          On the same subject      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/09/iran-says-its-close-to-finalising-a-shipping-route-agreement-with-oman/) (Iran says its close to finalising a shipping route agreement with Oman)   NEWS   00:57   Iran says its close to finalising a shipping route agreement with Oman   09/08 - 16:24        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/06/28/united-states-and-iran-trade-fresh-strikes-further-testing-60-day-truce/) (United States and Iran trade fresh strikes further testing 60-day truce)   NEWS   01:10   United States and Iran trade fresh strikes further testing 60-day truce   28/06 - 12:35        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/06/18/toronto-celebrates-as-ghana-beat-panama-with-late-world-cup-goal/) (Toronto celebrates as Ghana beat Panama with late World Cup goal)   NO COMMENT   01:00   Toronto celebrates as Ghana beat Panama with late World Cup goal   18/06 - 14:51        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/04/23/africa-faces-86-million-tonne-fuel-shortfall-by-2040-finance-body/) (Africa faces 86 million tonne fuel shortfall by 2040: finance body)   BUSINESS   01:15   Africa faces 86 million tonne fuel shortfall by 2040: finance body   24/04 - 10:03        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/04/23/iran-war-shipping-disruption-impacts-medicine-availability-in-sudan/) (Iran war shipping disruption impacts medicine availability in Sudan)   NEWS   01:36   Iran war shipping disruption impacts medicine availability in Sudan   23/04 - 12:51        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/04/17/irans-foreign-minister-reopens-strait-of-hormuz-during-ceasefire/) (Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships during ceasefire)   NEWS   01:01   Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships during ceasefire   17/04 - 17:13               More stories     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/nigerian-armed-groups-raise-nearly-6-million-in-ransoms-study-finds/) (Nigerian armed groups raise nearly $6 Million in ransoms, study finds)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/nigerian-armed-groups-raise-nearly-6-million-in-ransoms-study-finds/)   01:11      (http://www.africanews.com/tag/boko-haram/) Boko Haram      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/nigerian-armed-groups-raise-nearly-6-million-in-ransoms-study-finds/) Nigerian armed groups raise nearly $6 Million in ransoms, study finds     20 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/tanzanias-political-crisis-deepens-after-vp-resignation/) (Tanzania’s political crisis deepens after VP resignation)     (http://www.africanews.com/tag/tanzania/) Tanzania      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/tanzanias-political-crisis-deepens-after-vp-resignation/) Tanzania’s political crisis deepens after VP resignation     14 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/death-toll-from-algeria-wildfires-rises-to-12-dozens-injured/) (Death toll from Algeria wildfires rises to 12, dozens injured)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/death-toll-from-algeria-wildfires-rises-to-12-dozens-injured/)   01:03      (http://www.africanews.com/country/algeria/) Algeria      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/08/27/death-toll-from-algeria-wildfires-rises-to-12-dozens-injured/) Death toll from Algeria wildfires rises to 12, dozens injured     17 hours ago               By using this website, you agree with our use of cookies to improve its performance and enhance your user experience. More info in our (http://www.africanews.com/page/cookie/) Cookies policy page .. Ok  (http://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                Social Channels (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_E8NeF5QHY2dtdLRBCCLA) (youtube)           (https://twitter.com/africanews) (Twitter)    (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews) (Flipboard)    (https://www.facebook.com/Africanews-1004882306242283/) (facebook)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en) (instagram)       (http://www.africanews.com/page/about/) About Africanews  (https://www.euronews.com/terms-and-conditions) Terms and Conditions  (http://www.africanews.com/page/contact/) Contacts  (https://www.euronews.com/cookie-policy) Cookie policy  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/distribution) Distribution  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/advertising) Advertising  (http://www.africanews.com/page/jobs/) Jobs  (http://www.africanews.com/page/apps/) Apps  (http://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) Widgets  (http://www.euronews.com) (Euronews - Latest international news) Euronews     Friday 28/08/2026  (en) English (fr) French