The Panama Canal announced it will extend its temporary relief measures to December 31, 2020, offering further support for the industry’s recovery, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the global economy.
This extension comes after continued dialogue between the Canal and industry leaders on how to best provide relief, as the world looks to recover from the economic and social impact of COVID-19.
Implemented on May 4 and originally set to run until September 1, the relief measures include the suspension of advance payments for transit reservation fees and other changes to the waterway’s reservation system.
I am encouraged by the growth we are seeing for the container segment, though we are tracking changes in global trade flows vigilantly. The extension of these measures underscores our commitment first and foremost to our customers,
…said Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta.
Transits at the Panama Canal climbed from 845 in June to 933 in July, and August is showing a similar trend. The increase was largely driven by a surge in containership transits along the U.S. East Coast to Asia route.
The extension of the relief measures comes on the heels of the Canal’s commitment to make the investments in order to secure a sustainable, long-term solution to water levels.