November 9, 2026. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) raised daily transit slots to 34: 24 for Panamax locks and 10 for Neopanamax locks. The Panamax Super category rises from 18 to 19 slots. The maximum draft in the Neopanamax locks returns to 15.24 meters (50 feet) "until further notice."
How slots will be assigned
- Auction: November 12 to 17.
- Special competition: November 18 to 23.
- Regular second competition period: from November 24.
The ACP stressed that its Transit Booking System "remains the only mechanism that guarantees a transit date."
Context: from drought to recovery
gCaptain recalls that during the 2023–24 drought the canal handled only 22 transits a day, and that the draft had been raised to 49 feet in October. Marine Insight reports that rainfall was below average from May to August 2026, so slots were cut in September and restored to 33 from October 15. Trouble in the Middle East has diverted traffic to Panama and increased competition for bookings, especially among energy carriers.
SCFI down for a second week
On November 13 the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index fell 1.68 % to 3,572.33 points. According to Economic Daily News, the US East Coast lane fell 4.76 % to 9,387 dollars per 40-foot container and the US West Coast lane 3.65 % to 7,111 dollars. It was the second straight weekly drop, as November marks the start of the low season.
Our take
More slots and a deeper draft give carriers more room on routes from Asia to the US Gulf, the Caribbean and the east coast of South America, at a time when rates are easing.
- Ask for sea freight quotes that state the route and whether it crosses Panama.
- Calculate your landed cost with the new rates before ordering.
- Compare a DDP quote to avoid surprises at destination.
