Panama Canal Registers Tonnage Increase
The Panama Canal registered an increase in tonnage to 326.8 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) during fiscal year 2014 which concluded on September 30. This figure represents a 2 percent increase compared to the 320.6 million PC/UMS tons registered in FY 2013.
The increase was primarily driven by the bulk carrier segment which registered an 18.2 percent increase totaling 85.9 million PC/UMS tons, compared to the 72.7 million PC/UMS tons registered the previous year.
The dynamic movement of bulk through the Panama Canal in the last year is attributed to the surge in grain cargo flows from the US Gulf to Asia.
Other top market segments during this fiscal year included car carriers with 45.8 million PC/UMS and gas carriers with 6.0 million PC /UMS tons, which increased 6.7 percent and 24.2 percent, respectively.
The Panama Canal’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.