Panama Canal Closes Fiscal Year 2019 With Record Tonnage

The Panama Canal closed fiscal year 2019 (FY 2019) with a tonnage record of 469 million tons CP / SUAB (volume measure of the Universal System of Ships of the Panama Canal), representing an increase of 6.2 percent compared to the previous year.

With this figure, the Panama Canal exceeds 450.7 million tons of CP / SUAB estimated for FY 2019, as well as tonnage of FY 2018, which closed with 442 million tons of CP / SUAB.

This new brand is the result of the work of a human team committed to efficiency, and the continuous investment in the infrastructure of the Panama Canal to meet the demand of world maritime trade with a reliable and safe service.

Image Credits: Panama Canal – Twitter

Results by segment

In terms of number of transits, the increase was driven, in particular, by the vessels of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which had an increase of 37.6 and 6.9 percent, respectively, in comparison to fiscal year 2018. Other segments that marked an increase were oil vessels, with an increase of 5.6 percent, and vehicle transporters / RoRo, 5.5 percent, compared to fiscal year 2018.

Container ships remained the segment with the greatest impact on the interoceanic route by contributing 164.8 million tons during FY 2019, including 126.2 million tons that passed through the Neopanamax locks.

In order of importance, the bulk carriers followed 76.5 million tons CP / SUAB; Ro / Ro vehicle transporter, with 53.1 million tonnes CP / SUAB; chemical tankers, 44.3 million tons CP / SUAB; LNG ships, with 43 million tons CP / SUAB; LPG vessels, 37.8 million tons CP / SUAB; oil tankers, 22.6 million tons CP / SUAB; and passenger ships, with 9.9 million tons CP / SUAB.

Main routes and users

In FY 2019, the main routes along the Panama Canal, in terms of percentage of tons of cargo, were between the east coast of the United States and Asia, the east coast of the United States and the west coast of South America, Europe and the west coast from South America, east coast of the United States and west coast of Central America and coast to coast United States.

Reference: micanaldepanama.com

Source: Maritime Shipping News