# Panama Canal: Over 5 Million Dollars for a Single Transit Slot **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (Panama Canal Authority) / Reuters | **Published:** 2026-09-23 | **Updated:** 2026-09-27 **Tags:** Panamakanal, Panama, Slot, Seefracht, LPG, LNG, Container, Kanal, Frachtraten, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News > Over 5 Million USD for a Single Panama Canal Slot: Energy Shipments and Tight Capacity Drive Competition for Transits --- The Panama Canal is currently demonstrating how expensive scarce transit capacity can become. Reuters reports an auction premium of over 5 million USD for a single transit slot of an LPG vessel. The background is an unusual combination of limited canal capacity and additional energy traffic. Due to problems in the Middle East, more energy vessels are routing through alternative routes. At the same time, the Panama Canal has reduced its daily capacity due to weak rainfall. Since September 15, nine Neopanamax and 23 Panamax slots per day are available. This represents a total of 32 regular transits. For vessels without confirmed reservations, waiting times can occur. The Panama Canal Authority therefore explicitly recommends using the reservation system. --- For container traffic, this primarily means increased competition for slots. Particularly during peak season, missing reservations can lead to delays. Important to note: The 5 million USD represents an auction premium for a specific slot and is not a standard canal fee. In short: The Panama Canal is becoming a bottleneck again – and individual vessels are now paying millions for it. --- Reuters reported a slot auction premium of more than USD 5 million. An LPG carrier was affected. Since September 15, 2026, 32 regular slots per day are available. Of these, 9 are allocated to Neopanamax vessels. 23 slots are allocated to Panamax vessels. The reduction is caused by below-average rainfall. The Canal Authority warns of longer waiting times without reservation. A confirmed booking guarantees the transit day. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [United States of America](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/us) - [Panama](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/pa) - [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn) ### Glossary - [Booking](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/booking) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight) - [Alternative routes](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/alternative-routes) - [Neopanamax](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/neopanamax) - [Slot](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/slot) - [Panamax](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/panamax) - [Panama Canal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/panama-canal) - [LNG (liquefied natural gas)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/lng-liquefied-natural-gas) - [LPG](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/lpg) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/panamakanal-mehr-als-5-millionen-dollar-nur-fuer-einen-transit-slot-20260921123341](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/panamakanal-mehr-als-5-millionen-dollar-nur-fuer-einen-transit-slot-20260921123341)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/panamakanal-mehr-als-5-millionen-dollar-nur-fuer-einen-transit-slot-20260921123341](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/panamakanal-mehr-als-5-millionen-dollar-nur-fuer-einen-transit-slot-20260921123341)*