https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/191009/6-2-ano-2019-canal

Despite the economic and commercial situation in the international environment, the tonnage of cargo by the Canal maintained its dynamism, according to the figures of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

According to statistics, the Canal closed fiscal year 2019 with a 6.2% increase in tonnage, compared to the previous year.

According to the numbers, during the fiscal year studied, a record of 469 million tons CP / SUAB was reported (volume measure of the Universal System of Arches of Ships of the Panama Canal), thus exceeding the fiscal year 2018, which closed with 442 million tons.

That is, for this year 2019, the important road registered 27 million tons more or a growth of 6.2%, compared to the previous year. And it also exceeded estimates for this fiscal period, which were 450.7 million tons.

For the administration of the road, this new brand is the result of the work of a human team committed to efficiency, and the continuous investment in the infrastructure of the canal to meet the demand of world maritime trade with a reliable and safe service .6% of world trade transits the Canal. The main routes, in terms of tons, were between the east coast of the US and Asia; the east coast of the USA and west coast of South America, Europe and west coast of South America.

In terms of number of transits, he indicated that it was driven, in particular, by the vessels of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which grew 37.6% and 6.9%, respectively.

Although it also increased oil tankers (5.6%) and vehicle carriers / RoRo (5.5%).

He stressed that container ships remained as the segment with the greatest impact on the road, contributing 164.8 million tons during fiscal year 2019, including 126.2 million tons that passed through the Neopanamax locks.

These segments are followed by bulk carriers, which reported 76.5 million tons; Ro / Ro vehicle transporter, 53.1 million tons; and chemical tankers, 44.3 million tons.

Also the LNG ships, with 43 million tons; LPG vessels, 37.8 million tons; oil tankers, 22.6 million tons; and those of passengers, 9.9 million tons.

For its part, the main routes, in terms of percentage of tons of cargo, were between the east coast of the United States and Asia, the east coast of the United States and west coast of South America, Europe and west coast of South America, east coast of United States and west coast of Central America and coast to coast United States. Its main user countries were: United States, China, Japan, Chile and Mexico.

More than 6% of world trade travels through the Canal, but specialists have warned that their activity and finances could be affected by the commercial war between the United States and China. In fact, the ACP estimated that for this fiscal year it stopped receiving an additional $ 30 million for the tariff conflict, although it has not yet presented the final financial results of fiscal year 2019, which runs from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019 .