Wednesday, November 11, 2026
The news that moves freight
Tracker Checked 11 Nov, 02:41 UTC

Panama Canal: transits and water levels

Key numbers

Panama Canal transits, 7-day average
43.1 ships/day

▲ 3.1 · Oct 4, 2026

Gatun Lake water level
87.1 feet

Since Nov 10, 2026

Neopanamax maximum draft
50 feet

▲ 1 · Nov 10, 2026

Over time

Panama Canal transits, 7-day average (ships/day)
4535.1Nov 16, 25Oct 4, 2645 ships/day · Nov 16, 25 · added from published history40 ships/day · Nov 23, 25 · added from published history43.3 ships/day · Nov 30, 25 · added from published history40.6 ships/day · Dec 7, 25 · added from published history41.6 ships/day · Dec 14, 25 · added from published history41.3 ships/day · Dec 21, 25 · added from published history38.4 ships/day · Dec 28, 25 · added from published history35.1 ships/day · Jan 4, 26 · added from published history38 ships/day · Jan 11, 26 · added from published history39.9 ships/day · Jan 18, 26 · added from published history38.4 ships/day · Jan 25, 26 · added from published history42.7 ships/day · Feb 1, 26 · added from published history40.4 ships/day · Feb 8, 26 · added from published history42.7 ships/day · Feb 15, 26 · added from published history40.3 ships/day · Feb 22, 26 · added from published history41.6 ships/day · Mar 1, 26 · added from published history42.7 ships/day · Mar 8, 26 · added from published history40.1 ships/day · Mar 15, 26 · added from published history39.7 ships/day · Mar 22, 26 · added from published history42.4 ships/day · Mar 29, 26 · added from published history44.9 ships/day · Apr 5, 26 · added from published history40.9 ships/day · Apr 12, 26 · added from published history38.4 ships/day · Apr 19, 26 · added from published history44.1 ships/day · Apr 26, 26 · added from published history37.3 ships/day · May 3, 26 · added from published history39.7 ships/day · May 10, 26 · added from published history39.1 ships/day · May 17, 26 · added from published history41 ships/day · May 24, 26 · added from published history39.7 ships/day · May 31, 26 · added from published history41.3 ships/day · Jun 7, 26 · added from published history39.9 ships/day · Jun 14, 26 · added from published history37.9 ships/day · Jun 21, 26 · added from published history42.6 ships/day · Jun 28, 26 · added from published history42.1 ships/day · Jul 5, 26 · added from published history41.3 ships/day · Jul 12, 26 · added from published history41.6 ships/day · Jul 19, 26 · added from published history40.9 ships/day · Jul 26, 26 · added from published history41.6 ships/day · Aug 2, 26 · added from published history41 ships/day · Aug 9, 26 · added from published history40.9 ships/day · Aug 16, 26 · added from published history42 ships/day · Aug 23, 26 · added from published history43 ships/day · Aug 30, 26 · added from published history41.6 ships/day · Sep 6, 26 · added from published history37.9 ships/day · Sep 13, 26 · added from published history41.9 ships/day · Sep 20, 26 · added from published history40 ships/day · Sep 27, 26 · added from published history43.1 ships/day · Oct 4, 26
Neopanamax maximum draft (feet)
5048Sep 4, 26Nov 10, 2648 feet · Sep 4, 26 · added from published history49 feet · Sep 28, 26 · added from published history50 feet · Nov 10, 26

Lighter points are earlier figures added from published records. Breaks in a line are gaps in the data. Download the data (CSV)

The facts

  • Panama Canal transits averaged 43.1 ships a day in the week 28 Sep–4 Oct 2026, the latest week IMF PortWatch has published. (IMF PortWatch, as of 4 Oct 2026)
  • From the week to 16 Nov 2025 to the week to 4 Oct 2026, the weekly average ranged from 35.1 ships a day (week to 4 Jan 2026) to 45.0 ships a day (week to 16 Nov 2025). (IMF PortWatch, Nov 2025–Apr 2026, Apr–Sep 2026, Aug–Oct 2026, as of 4 Oct 2026)
  • The Panama Canal Authority's official Gatun Lake level for 10 Nov 2026 is 87.1 feet. (Panama Canal Authority, Gatun water indicators, as of 10 Nov 2026)
  • The same report lists the official maximum draft as 50.0 feet for Neopanamax ships and 39.5 feet for Panamax ships (the older, smaller locks). (Panama Canal Authority, Gatun water indicators, as of 10 Nov 2026)
  • On 28 Sep 2026 the canal raised the Neopanamax maximum draft to 49.0 feet "effective immediately and until further notice", and said Neopanamax locks would go to 10 daily transits from 15 Oct 2026, for 33 daily slots across both sets of locks. (Panama Canal Authority, as of 28 Sep 2026)
  • On 4 Sep 2026 the canal said "the maximum authorized draft of 14.63 m (48.0 feet) TFW will remain in effect" and postponed a cut to 47.5 feet planned for 1 Oct 2026. TFW means tropical fresh water, the water density the limit is measured in. (Advisory A-33-2026, as of 4 Sep 2026)
  • On 20 Aug 2026, citing reduced rainfall in the canal watershed, the canal cut Neopanamax daily booking slots to 9 (for booking dates from 4 Sep) and Panamax slots to 25, then to 23 (for booking dates from 15 Sep). The advisory said "cumulative rainfall across the Canal watershed has been 34% below the historical average." (Advisory A-29-2026, as of 20 Aug 2026)

What changed

  1. Tracking began.

Why we track this

This tracker was added from the tracker list. Many Asia–US East Coast and Gulf Coast services use the Panama Canal. When Gatun Lake runs low, the canal cuts the number of daily transits and how deep ships may load, as it did in August and September 2026, so ships carry less cargo or wait for a slot. Forwarders need to know early whether those limits are tightening or easing.

Sources