# Panama Canal's El Niño Concerns Prompt Carrier Surcharges

> Ocean carriers including MSC, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd are adding Panama Canal surcharges while the canal reportedly suspends part of its booking system. The suspension would cut daily Panamax slot capacity from 36 to 34 vessels. NOAA has warned that El Niño will strengthen and persist.

- Date: 2019-09-03 · published 2019-09-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region Panama · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/56996-panama-canal-s-el-nino-concerns-prompt-carrier-surcharges
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

Reduced canal capacity and new surcharges push up ocean freight costs for US Gulf and Pacific grain exports to Asia and the East Coast. That raises the landed cost of feed ingredients.

## Read by commodity

- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Sources

- wwd.com: https://wwd.com/sourcing-journal/logistics/panama-canal-el-nino-carrier-msc-cma-cgm-hapag-surcharges-draft-restrictions-1239079523/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.