The Panama Canal Authority said on August 21, 2026, that it will reduce the number of ships allowed through the waterway each day, only the second time such a restriction has been imposed in the canal's 110-year operating history.
The BBC reported that the authority attributed the decision to low rainfall driven by the El Niño ocean pattern, which has gripped the region and reduced water levels needed for transit operations. The Financial Times also reported the planned reduction, noting it would mark a rare curtailment for the canal.
No specific transit cap figure or implementation date was given in either account.