Panama Canal cuts daily transits to 34 from Sept 3

This is a proactive tightening of capacity rather than a reactive halt, signaling that the drought's impact is now structural for at least the next month. The draft cut compounds the transit reduction, directly squeezing bulk carriers and container ships that rely on full loads, which could re-route trade flows and pressure freight rates. The key watchpoint is whether further reductions follow if rainfall stays below normal, and how quickly logistics chains adapt to the new, lower ceiling for canal throughput.