Khaberni - The war in the Middle East has led to an increase in the number of ships passing through the Panama Canal, according to an official in this water passage located between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on Monday.
In response to American and Israeli attacks, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas pass en route to global markets.
This situation has diverted part of marine traffic towards the Panama Canal.
Ilya Espino de Marota, an official at the Canal authority, told Telemetro station, "We were expecting about 34 crossings per day" for this year, but in the past two weeks, "we had 38, 39, 40."
5% of global maritime trade passes through the Panama Canal which is primarily used by the United States and China. This route mainly connects the East Coast of the United States with Beijing, South Korea, and Japan.
The official added, "The Panama Canal is a safe and short route, and with the current fuel prices", it still reduces costs.
However, she warned that passing 40 ships a day is "unsustainable" in the long term due to limited space.
She added that by April, the Canal is expected to see renewed growth in the number of ships carrying liquefied natural gas, after it had declined due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
