Panama Canal Toll Collections Down

The Panama Canal Authority issued a press release stating that toll collections for the first eight months of fiscal year 2002 were $396 million. This is $6.1 million below the same period in 2001 and $12.6 million below the amount projected in the Authority's current budget. Transits of oceangoing vessels totaled 8,094, whereas the estimate had been 9,087. The cargo tonnage of 125.7 million long tons was 4.9 percent below the same period last year. Source: HK Lae