Panama Canal recovery heightens importance of US Gulf LNG shipmentsパナマ運河、通航量回復で米ガルフ発LNG輸送の重要性高まる

ACP reports 4.1% rise in transits to 13,951 vessels, with transit slots and water management in focus

ACP発表、通航隻数4.1％増の1万3951隻、通航枠と水位管理が当面の焦点

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said vessel transits rose 4.1% year on year to 13,951 in fiscal year 2026 (October 2025 to September 2026), while tonnage increased 6.5% to 521mn PC/UMS tonnes. Demand for Panama Canal transits is recovering as energy shipments from the US Gulf gain importance amid disruption surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

■ The full article covers the following topics (approximately 2,000 Japanese characters)

→ Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz draws attention to US Gulf LNG shipments, increasing the Panama Canal’s strategic importance

→ ACP reports 4.1% rise in transits to 13,951 vessels, driven by energy shipping and containerships

→ Daily transit slots increased to 33 and last-minute reservations reinstated, with water management a focus towards year-end

→ Competition for LNG and LPG carrier reservation slots, with transit costs and waiting times affecting shipping companies’ profitability

→ New business opportunities for Japan’s three major shipping companies as growing US Gulf shipments increase the importance of deployment strategies

Photo courtesy of ACP, iStock

(Please read the full article in the paid edition, available in English and Japanese. The Japanese-language article follows the English version.)

パナマ運河、通航量回復で米ガルフ発LNG輸送の重要性高まる

ACP発表、通航隻数4.1％増の1万3951隻、通航枠と水位管理が当面の焦点

　パナマ運河庁（ACP、Panama Canal Authority）は、2026会計年度（2025年10月～2026年9月）の通航隻数が前年度比4.1％増の1万3951隻、通航トン数が6.5％増の5億2100万PC/UMSトンだったと発表した。ホルムズ海峡を巡る混乱で米国メキシコ湾岸（米ガルフ）発のエネルギー輸送が重要性を増すなか、パナマ運河の通航需要が回復している。

■記事本文では以下の内容を読むことができます（記事全文約2,000文字）

→ ホルムズ海峡の混乱で米ガルフ発LNG輸送に関心、パナマ運河の戦略的重要性高まる

→ ACP発表、通航隻数4.1％増の1万3951隻、エネルギー輸送とコンテナ船がけん引

→ 通航枠を1日33隻に拡大、直前予約も再開、年末に向けた水位管理が焦点

→ LNG・LPG船の予約枠を巡る競争、通航コストと待機時間が船社の採算左右

→ 日本の海運3社に新たな商機、米ガルフ発輸送の拡大で配船戦略の重要性増す

Photo courtesy of ACP, iStock

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた有料版の本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）