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ACP aims to hold 32 daily Canal transits and 48-foot draft through December

Shippers—and anyone who watches Panama’s water math—got a clearer near-term signal this week: the Canal is not planning another cut to daily slots for the rest of 2026, provided the late-rainy-season holds up.

In remarks covered by TVN (24 Sep) and Infobae (25–26 September 2026), Canal administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta said the ACP expects to keep 32 daily transits through December, without new reductions in the remaining months of 2026—if October and November rains cooperate. Late-August and September rains improved Gatún and Alhajuela. On 25 September, Infobae reported Gatún at 84.64 feet and Alhajuela at 242.92 feet.

What already changed—and what is on hold

The Canal is already operating at 32 daily transits after earlier reductions (coverage has cited both a step-down path from 36 and a recent 34 → 32 cut around mid-September) and a Neopanamax maximum draft of 48 feet (down from 50). For now those are the operating parameters while October–November rainfall is watched. The first 21 days of September brought above-average basin rain after four deficit months, Infobae summarized from the symposium remarks.

Espino de Marotta stressed predictability for shipping lines: frequent draft or slot changes hurt commercial reliability even when the waterway stays open. She also recalled the 2023 crisis, when daily transits fell as low as 24 at points.

Still not a green light for the dry season

The same briefing kept the warning label on. The priority is storing enough water for people and ships through the dry months. A strong October–November could help the Canal avoid fresh transit cuts before year-end. This pack’s locked claim is the conditional through-December hold of 32 daily / 48 ft—not a promise about the 2027 dry season.

How this differs from the Río Indio story you may have seen

PanExpats already covered the long-term Río Indio reservoir budget track ($1.5B concept, ~$82M in FY2027 development spend, ~35% conceptual design). Treat that as the decade fix. This pack is the weeks-to-months ops update: rains improved lake levels; management is trying to freeze today’s 32/48 settings into year-end.

Other capital projects mentioned in the same Infobae piece (Corozal/Telfers terminals, energy corridor, west-bank logistics corridor) are context only—do not overclaim award or construction starts.

Bottom line for expats: you will not see a Canal lock from your balcony, but Canal water policy is also metro-area drinking-water policy—and shipping constraints ripple into import costs and national mood. For now, the ACP’s public target is steadiness through December, with October–November as the make-or-break rain window.

Based on TVN (24 Sep) and Infobae (25–26 Sep 2026) quoting ACP administrator Espino de Marotta. Distinct from the live Río Indio budget pack.

Key points

  • Already at 32 daily (after earlier cuts) + 48 ft draft (down from 50); hold through Dec if Oct–Nov rains
  • Lakes 25 Sep: Gatún 84.64 ft, Alhajuela 242.92 ft (Infobae)
  • Dual source: TVN (24 Sep) + Infobae (25–26 Sep)
  • Not a 2027 dry-season promise
  • Distinct from Río Indio live pack

Sources

  • https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/canal-de-panama-calado-podria-sostenerse-diciembre-2026-ilya-espino-administradora-fenomeno-de-el-nino_1_2262562.html
  • https://www.infobae.com/panama/2026/09/26/las-lluvias-dan-margen-al-canal-de-panama-para-evitar-nuevos-recortes-este-ano/
  • Supporting context (earlier Sep / 34→32 note): https://www.prensa.com/economia/canal-cerro-agosto-con-mas-transitos-de-alto-calado-y-opera-ahora-con-32-cruces-diarios/