The traffic restrictions in the Panama Canal will continue for at least 10 more months.

The Canal will continue with the restrictions for at least 10 more months due to the prolonged follow-up that the water level has lowered; These restrictions include a daily limit on the transit of shipments and maximum draft.

The canal authority began imposing restrictions earlier this year, causing a backlog of vessels waiting to pass. These restrictions have forced shipping companies to lighten the cargo weight per shipment, even looking for alternative routes to avoid going through the canal.

Extending the restrictions would help the canal conserve water before the next rainy season hits, but could create a bigger bottleneck for ships if they don’t reserve passage ahead of time.

It is reported that there is priority of passage for container ships over bulk and coal ships. Authorities recommend reserving spaces in advance to avoid delays.

The Panama Canal administration works to prepare for the next one which is expected to be even drier than the current one. In Panama, a natural El Niño weather pattern associated with warmer-than-usual waters in the Pacific Ocean is contributing to the drought.