# The future of the Panama Canal: What’s next for grain and coal shipping - FreightWaves

> FreightWaves examines the outlook for dry bulk cargo through the Panama Canal, which remains the canal's highest-volume cargo type. Grains and coal dominate, and U.S. soybeans, sorghum and corn are a key component of Panamax-lock traffic bound for Asia.

- Date: 2019-04-26 · published 2019-04-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region Panama · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/59492-the-future-of-the-panama-canal-what-s-next-for-grain-and-coal-shipping
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Sorghum](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SORGHUM.md)

## Why it matters

Canal routing affects freight costs and the competitiveness of U.S. and South American grain shipments to Asia, which can shift export basis and freight-sensitive prices.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- SORGHUM: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2018-12-10 | [Panama Canal, Port of Itaqui sign agreement - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61481-panama-canal-port-of-itaqui-sign-agreement-freightwaves.md) | -1.8% | -1.1% |
| SOY | 2021-02-26 | [Costly Panamax freight sees Capesize ore carrier loading grains](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48520-costly-panamax-freight-sees-capesize-ore-carrier-loading-grains.md) | +0.7% | +0.6% |
| SOY | 2024-07-17 | [La Ñina boosts the Panama Canal; Houthi threat drives up shipping costs through the Suez](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17016-la-nina-boosts-the-panama-canal-houthi-threat-drives-up-shipping-costs-through.md) | +2.5% | -9.3% |
| SOY | 2022-04-17 | [Recalibrating the Panama Canal’s Tolls Structure to Unlock a New Era for Growth - Autoridad del Canal de Panamá](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41745-recalibrating-the-panama-canal-s-tolls-structure-to-unlock-a-new-era-for-growth.md) | +2.0% | +2.4% |
| SOY | 2026-05-06 | [Freight Bottlenecks Reshape Grain and Fertilizer Shipping Routes - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16855-freight-bottlenecks-reshape-grain-and-fertilizer-shipping-routes-rfd.md) | +1.5% | -3.5% |
| CORN | 2025-04-14 | [Freight rates for grain transportation by coasters to Italy have increased on the Danube \| Ukrainian and World Shipping News - Ukrainian Shipping Magazine - Ukrainian and World Shipping News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16952-freight-rates-for-grain-transportation-by-coasters-to-italy-have-increased-on.md) | +1.1% | -5.2% |
| CORN | 2024-01-26 | [Freight rates for grain shipping from Ukraine's Odessa ports continue to decline - brokers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32319-freight-rates-for-grain-shipping-from-ukraine-s-odessa-ports-continue-to.md) | -0.9% | -7.1% |
| CORN | 2019-07-12 | [Panama Canal Authority suspends latest draft restrictions on ships - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57985-panama-canal-authority-suspends-latest-draft-restrictions-on-ships-freightwaves.md) | -3.2% | -7.0% |

## Sources

- freightwaves.com: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maritime-the-future-of-the-panama-canal-whats-next-for-grain-and-coal-shipping

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