The Panama Canal, driven by the additional capacity offered by the expanded highway, registered a record annual tonnage at the end of the fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017) with 403.8 million tons of CP / SUAB (volume measurement of the Universal System of Tonnage). Vessels of the Panama Canal), which represents an increase of 22.2% compared to the previous year.
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| Picture by Canal de Panama |
With this figure, the Panama Canal exceeds the 399 million tons of CP / SUAB projected for FY 2017, as well as the tonnage of FY 2016, which closed with 330.4 million tons of CP / SUAB.
Toll revenues and other maritime services totaled B / .2,691 million, an increase of 14.3% compared to the previous year.
"It was a record year beyond expectations," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano. "This figure reflects once again the commitment of the Panama Canal to provide greater revenues to the country, with an efficient, safe and competitive operation for our customers."
In total, including the operation of the panamax and neopanamax locks, 13,548 transits were reached through the Panama Canal, that is, an increase of 3.3% in the balance with FY 2016.
Results by segment
Container ships remained the segment with the greatest impact on the interoceanic route, contributing 143 million tons during FY 2017, which includes 89.1 million tons from the expanded Canal.
In order of importance, tanker ships followed - including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships - with 105 million tons, bulk carriers, with 79 million tons, and carrier carriers, with 47 million tons of tons.
Main routes and users
In FY 2017, the main routes through the Panama Canal were between Asia and the East Coast of the United States (34%), West Coast of South America and the East Coast of the United States (13%), West Coast of South America and Europe (7%), west coast Central America and the east coast of the United States (7%) and intercostal South America (5%).
68.3% of the cargo that transited the Canal originates or is destined for the United States.
The main users of the interoceanic route were: the United States, China, Chile, Japan, Mexico and Colombia.
The 2017 fiscal year of the Panama Canal began on October 1, 2016 and ended on September 30, 2017. This is the first full fiscal year with the Canal expanded in operation.
