Panama Canal: Transit, Slots and Alternatives
The ACP changes slots and draft by advisory. This page restates A-36-2026 of 28 September 2026, checked on 2 October. The next figure is on pancanal.com.
Daily capacity from the booking date of 15 October 2026
Of which ten are Neopanamax, previously nine. The tenth slot is offered from 1 October 2026 in the second booking period, for transits from 15 October.
Source: Panama Canal Authority — Advisory A-36-2026 (28 Sept 2026), 2026Maximum Neopanamax draft, since 28 September 2026 until further notice
14.94 metres. The authority cites September rain and water-saving measures at the locks. Gatun Lake remains the limiting reservoir.
Source: Panama Canal Authority — Advisory A-36-2026 (28 Sept 2026), 2026The only way to lock a transit date
The authority says the watershed deficit continues. Without a reservation the wait can be indefinite, even after the extra slot.
Source: Panama Canal Authority — Advisory A-36-2026 (28 Sept 2026), 2026What the authority set on 28 September 2026
| Topic | Status | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Neopanamax slots | Ten a day for booking dates from 15 October 2026. Previously nine. Offered in booking period 2 from 1 October. | In force |
| Total capacity | 33 daily slots across Neopanamax and Panamax locks from 15 October 2026. | In force |
| Neopanamax draft | 14.94 m / 49 feet, immediately and until further notice. This advisory does not set the Panamax draft. | In force |
| Water and waiting | Watershed deficit remains. Without a reservation there is no promised transit; the wait can be indefinite. | Volatile |
The latest advisory on pancanal.com governs. This table restates A-36-2026 of 28 September 2026, checked on 2 October.
Why the canal matters
For US East Coast–Asia and many Latin America–Pacific trades, Panama is the short path. The EIA lists it as a global chokepoint for oil and trade. Every draft or slot change therefore hits cargo quantity, waiting time and the choice between the canal, Suez and a landbridge.
What shippers should check now
For transits from 15 October 2026 there is one more Neopanamax slot in the system, 33 a day in total. The 49-foot draft already applies. A ship without a booking still has no date. The authority repeats: the water deficit continues, and a reservation is the only path to a fixed transit day. The next change will again arrive as an advisory, not as an estimate on this page.
If the slot is not enough, Suez, the US landbridge or Cape Horn are the practical alternatives. Concrete times between two ports live in the transit index, not as a Panama daily figure.
Context
Drought: the authority cuts daily transits
Low rain at Gatun Lake forced the ACP to let fewer ships through per day and to limit draft. The exact daily count from then lives in the old advisories, not on this page.
Advisory A-36-2026: 49 feet and a tenth Neopanamax slot
Draft 14.94 metres immediately. Ten Neopanamax transits and 33 slots in total for booking dates from 15 October. The authority does not say the water deficit is over.
Latest news on this topic
All news23 Sept 2026
Panama Canal: Over 5 Million Dollars for a Single Transit Slot
Over 5 Million USD for a Single Panama Canal Slot: Energy Shipments and Tight Capacity Drive Competition for Transits
22 Sept 2026
Panama Canal Reduces Transits Due to Insufficient Rainfall
Lower rainfall forces Panama Canal to reduce transit capacity. Reservations, draft restrictions, and potential surcharges are particularly important.
27 Aug 2026
Panama Canal Reduces Slots: Capacity Constraints Expected from September
Due to insufficient rainfall, the Panama Canal is reducing its daily slots. Ships without fixed reservations may face longer waiting periods starting in September.
11 Aug 2026
Typhoons Drive Transpacific Rates Higher – AI Hardware Bolsters Demand
Port congestion and typhoon-related delays in Asia are causing spot rates to rise significantly toward the USA. Additional demand for AI and data center technology is exacerbating the situation.
Next steps
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Frequently asked questions
How many ships transit the canal per day?›
From the booking date of 15 October 2026 the authority offers 33 slots a day, ten of them Neopanamax. That is the offered capacity in Advisory A-36-2026, not the number of ships that actually transited on a given day. The ACP publishes the actual count on pancanal.com.
How deep may a Neopanamax ship sit now?›
14.94 metres, 49 feet, since the advisory of 28 September 2026 and until the authority writes something else. That applies to the Neopanamax locks. The same advisory does not give a new Panamax figure.
What to do when slots are tight?›
First the ACP reservation, because without a booking there is no fixed date. If that is not enough: Suez, the US landbridge or another gateway, and the Connect partner on the concrete lane. A hub figure does not replace a booking.