Panama Canal reinstates last-minute slots as transits increase again
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported strong growth in FY2025/26, with 13,951 canal transits, a 4.1% increase from the previous year. Total tonnage rose by 8.2%, driven mainly by energy shipments and container vessels, while canal revenue reached $6.6 billion, up 16.6% year-on-year. Thanks to successful water-conservation measures and the return of normal rainfall after concerns over El Niño-related drought, the canal has restored capacity and reintroduced its last-minute reservation service, allowing ships another opportunity to secure transit slots on short notice.
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LNG remains dominant alternative fuel, but compliance advantage is narrowing
According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, LNG remains the dominant alternative marine fuel due to its well-established infrastructure and higher energy density. However, regulations such as the EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and the IMO Net-Zero Framework are increasing compliance costs and gradually reducing LNG’s competitive advantage. Depending on how future regulations address methane emissions, green ammonia could become more cost-competitive than fossil LNG in the 2030s. The report concludes that LNG’s long-term role in shipping will depend largely on regulatory decisions, particularly the treatment of upstream methane emissions.
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