🚚 Logistics & Freight

El Niño Stalks Panama Canal Again as Middle East Air Freight Sits Out Ceasefire Hype

Another massive containership idles off Panama's coast. El Niño forecasts spell low water levels by year-end, piling fresh pain on shippers already dodging Red Sea attacks and Strait of Hormuz jitters.

Supply Chain Beat Apr 11, 2026 4 min read
Low water levels exposing sandy banks at Panama Canal locks with waiting container ships

⚡ Key Takeaways

  • El Niño threatens Panama Canal transits by year-end, echoing 2023's 36% cut. 𝕏
  • US-Iran ceasefire won't quickly revive Middle East air freight due to lingering security costs. 𝕏
  • Combined disruptions could drive 25% freight rate hikes, urging shippers to diversify now. 𝕏
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Supply Chain Beat

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#El Niño #El Niño forecast #Middle East disruptions #Panama Canal #Red Sea disruptions #air freight #air freight Middle East #supply chain disruptions #supply chain risks

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Originally reported by JOC Journal of Commerce

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